When I arrived in Australia, I didn’t know anybody except a business lady in Sydney. Fortunately, my husband had to work in Sydney for a week before we moved to sunny Brisbane, so after a 24-hour flight, we checked into our room early, thanks to the wonderful hotel. Wasting no time, I took a shower and headed out to meet Suzy (the business lady) at her networking event. There, I met a lady, who put me in touch with a tea lady, with whom I arranged to have tea. The tea lady, in turn, invited Lindel Revell-Barker to the gathering.
Prior to meeting Lindel, the only interaction I had had with tea leaf reading was when I received a book about the subject after attending Jane Pettigrew’s Masterclass three years ago. I have to admit that it had collected dust on the bookshelf until recently (blush blush).
Lindel is an amazing woman. I learned so much from her with regard to her business, her book, and her knowledge of the Australian tea industry. You can also purchase her tea leaf reading app on the iPhone and Android! On T Ching, I’ve admitted to a few naughty things I’ve done, such as being snobby about herbal infusions and correcting people when they refer to High Tea. Now here’s another little secret I’d like to share with you – I didn’t know much about tea leaf reading and wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to.
A year on, I have to admit to eating my words as I was invited to a product launch earlier in the year, and as part of the entertainment there was a tasseologist to read people’s coffee grains. The tea leaf reading industry is an amazing one. Tasseologists can be hired to entertain as part of a product launch, an Afternoon Tea (High Tea), or a tea party in someone’s home. Maybe you can even learn how to read your own tea leaves. What about holding a tea leaf reading event in your tea room?!
Lindel and I met again a year later with another fellow tea leaf reader and both Lindel and Suzy enlightened me on people’s reactions when they’ve had readings. Of course, there were those who were sceptical and walked away with a newfound respect for the practice, those who enjoyed the evening as it gave them an insight into their lives, and those who found the experience a whole heap of fun. I think I ticked all of those boxes.
So, if you’re looking for ways to drive more traffic to your tea room, I would recommend hiring a tasseologist, as it is both quirky and fun.
P.S. I won’t tell you what Lindel shared with me, but if you look at the cup above, you’ll see the letter “T.” It seems that I was destined to work with this beautiful beverage.
I’ve always been curious about reading tea leaves. I will see if anyone in portland is doing this. I suspect there’s a tasseologist association. Thanks for the suggestion.
It was a pleasure to meet May King and to read her leaves. I had a bit of a feeling that she wasn’t sure about tea leaf reading, but she loved it when she experienced it. It is all about loving tea, loving the leaves and appreciating their journey from bush to cup and their ultimate gift in the giving of pictures. I have built up my business around tea leaf reading and tea appreciation since writing my most recent book, “Time for Tea” (Allen & Unwin 2006) I work at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney in the Rocks area. We have a Mystic High Tea – high tea plus tea leaf reading. Good tea leaf readers can show you the pictures in the cup and you can see the special symbols that are yours. I have had success in corporate tea building through drinking and enjoying tea and reading tea leaves. A short talk about the joys of tea always goes down well. Tea leaf reading has been a dying art since the advent of the tea bag, but I’m doing my best in Australia, to re-awaken people to the joys of leaf tea at home and the fun of reading tea leaves with friends and family. My iphone and android apps are coming up. See my website and facebook pages.
The photo says it all May King! :) I remember all the days drinking wonderful teas, in wonderful tea cups with Lindel while learning all about this wonderful ancient art. They still warm me through and through! I lapped it up (as you too describe here). Lindel, a fabulous mentor, teacher and tea expert, she continues to inspire many with her knowledge and passion for tea and how the leaves can bring a new level of meaning to our days.
Lovely pic and article May King! I admit I’ve been a little unsure on tea leaf reading – how does it work?! But I am always open to new tea experiences and learning so hope I have the opportunity to meet with Lindel. You’ve peaked my curiosity about it now!