Ritual 04: the simple sexy subtle art of tea.
To come home to oneself through tea
For some people, tea is just hot, grassy water.
But for others, tea is everything.
I happen to think the latter.
I’ve seen tea embraced not just as a drink, but as a physical way to connect with the non-physical self, the whole universe held in a cup.
From my California friend who always had a kettle going, to the way I find out more about a town through its tea wall at the local organic hippie shop, to the yogis sipping homegrown herbs in morning Vipassana, I am a tea freak.
I’ve had high tea at The Plaza and have been to traditional tea ceremonies in Japan. I’ve had seasoned tea hosts serve me 150-year-old pu-erh in Portland and sat in circles in Venice backyards sipping lavender stems after ecstatic screaming. I remember when Princess Diana died, there were murmurs that Britain’s gas pressure dropped; the story went that everyone put the kettle on at once to cope.
I am so intrigued by tea and everything that comes with it, from where it grows to how it’s served to the ways it makes me feel as I drink it.
Maybe my love of tea and rituals like this comes from not drinking alcohol. The absence of alcohol creates so much beautiful room for new and better rituals. Every night before bed Jack and I have a cup of tea. He loves blueberry hibiscus, and lately I’ve been on a turmeric ginger kick. Our kettle is very active. While I’m home during the day and he’s at work, I’ll have a cup in the afternoon and, when it’s colder, I know I’ll have a few more.
When we moved in we had so many boxes of tea that I bought a tea organizer, which brought me so much joy as I filled it up one night, carefully placing each tea bag in its particular spot.
Tea is such an overlooked, simple part of a good life. I could say it helps break our addiction to being busy. I could say watching tea brew is like watching nature come to life. I could say tea connects us to generations past. I could say tea contains all the secrets to life’s questions. But I could also just say, tea is delicious, and it makes me feel really good. Maybe it’ll make you feel good, too.
Tea Tour
These are all the teas and things I’ve bought that live in my house. Here is a key to detect which teas may be best for you!
Tea key:
*=caffeinated
#=organic
^=contains “natural flavors”
Bagged
Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice*^: sweet, spicy, and energizing. I love this mid-morning when I sit down for work to focus.
Harney & Sons Paris Tea*^: a classic which I’ve sung the praises of many times over. A friend in Echo Park introduced this to me over 10 years ago, and I still think it is one of the most elegant-tasting black teas. It’s on the heavier side and I need to be in the mood for it. 6 oz. is plenty for me. I drink it with milk and honey.
Rishi Greek Mountain Tea#: herbaceous, windy, clearing, and fresh, with notes of oregano + mountain-y goodness. Good during the fall transition, especially if you feel a cold coming on. I feel it’d nip it right in the bud.
Rishi Blueberry Hibiscus#: a pack of antioxidants. Jack’s favorite.
Rishi Turmeric Ginger#: the best bagged ginger turmeric blend I’ve ever tasted. Pure, whole, creamy goodness that’s heavy on the turmeric and orange peel. Absolutely adore this one.
Traditional Medicinals Pau d’Arco: a smoky floral. Acquired taste only.
Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat #: as needed. I go through boxes of these whenever I’m sick. Hot tip: when sick, brew a cup of this tea, add 1 T lemon juice, 1 T apple cider vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 T honey.
Traditional Medicinals Fennel#: really good for digestion and after meals.
Yogi Soothing Caramel Bedtime^: a calming bedtime treat I love to have in the bath.
Ippodo Tea Hojicha*: a sultry, smoky green tea that is light enough to have in the early afternoons. A favorite of mine.
Loose Leaf
Ippodo Genmaicha: traditional green tea with brown rice. Toasty and delicious with sushi or while writing a newsletter.
Magic Hour Ruby Moon^: Been talking about this tea for ages. A local Ojai brand, they ship nationwide and this tea SLAPS in mocktails or iced on hot days.
Magic Hour Lucid Dreams^: a decaffeinated chai. Really yummy with milk + honey.
Strawberry Guava: a Park Slope Co-Op classic. Fruity, bright, and creamy. Will make the whole drawer where it’s stored smell divine.
Milky oolong*: another co-op purchase I buy in bulk. Light on caffeine and easy on the stomach.
Matcha*: ceremonial grade. Delicious a few times a week or while traveling.
Accessories
Teapot (serves 2.)
Tea organizer (I love mine)
Unbleached tea filter bags for when you want to take loose leaf on the go.
And of course…
Vessels
The vessel in which you drink your tea is incredibly important. I drink my tea from handmade mugs only. Mt. Washington Pottery makes beautiful mugs, as do Else and Amanda Hummes. Better yet, make your own.
Notes
- i know a lot of hardcore tea enthusiasts only do loose leaf. as you can see, i’m okay with tea bags. Life is crazy enough, i’m not going to beat myself up for using tea bags. on that note, though:
-all of Rishi’s teas are organic and use plant-based tea bags. I love their standards if you’re feeling called to direct trade/certified organic/quality ingredients.
-i drink mostly uncaffeinated tea. i allow myself only 1-2 cups of caffeine per day so decaf flows freely here
-in general, i try to limit teas with lab-grown “natural flavors” but I think they’re okay in moderation.
That’s it, that’s my tea tour. I hope you enjoy a cuppa this weekend. And share this with your fellow tea-loving friend.