Around 200 articles about the spiritual connection between tea and ourselves
How do You Explain the Unique Qualities of Tea?
A huge part of my job as a tea importer trying to establish Chinese tea service as a cultural practice in America is drawing analogies. This is quite easy when it comes to the tea itself – good tea, like good wine, beer, chocolate, coffee, liquor, or pretty much
Exploring the Meaning of Tea 6; Tea is an Act of Kindness
There is no mastery in self-service. In this tradition we don’t learn to make tea but to serve tea. True mastery must be in the service of mankind. As we progress, we come to understand that we serve the evolution of consciousness itself, and that the growth and
Exploring the Meaning of Tea 5; Tea is Friendship
Tea has always been the emblem of civilization and peace. “Through tea make friends” is an old proverb expressing the sentiments we share with tea. Tea isn’t always deep and transcendent; it is sometimes a time/space of calm joy, where we can celebrate old friends and make new ones.
Exploring the Meaning of Tea 4; Tea is Heart and Spirit
Tea is a spiritual path, a Dao. In living a life of tea we realize that in all we do, we are preparing tea. What we eat affects our tea, as does the way we treat people. One of our masters always says, “If you want to learn to make tea, you must first learn to be a person.” That’s easier said than done.
Exploring the Meaning of Tea 3; Tea is Medicine
Learning to revere tea as medicine is important to us. Tea is a great healer, of body, mind and spirit. The earliest encyclopedia of Chinese herbs to mention tea stated that it “brightens the eyes.” This is a powerful expression of why Shen Nong,
Exploring the Meaning of Tea 2; Tea is Nature
These leaves are earth, soil and rock, wind and water. Through them we drink in the weather. And they are also an expression of what is beyond our planet, absorbing sun, moon and starlight in photosynthesis. Plants don’t have a feeling of separation or
Exploring The Meaning of Tea 1; Its Five-Fold Essence
The true meaning of this Way of Tea is only hinted at by words, as much adumbrated by them, and we can but hope to catch a dappled glimpse of it through the leaves we write and say. If there is a Way, a Path of Tea to be walked and lived it is surely in the growing,
Cleaning Teaware: the Tea Master”Bathing the Immortals”
You can tell a lot about artisans by how they care for their tools. The same can be said of a musician and her instruments, or a chef and his knives. Just as a master of any skill or craft can be distinguished from an amateur by that singular, effortless grace known to the Chinese as gong fu,
Sharing the Strong, Distinctive Taste of Yerba Mate
Unique Tea Experiences at the Dobra Tea House - Yerba Mate A trip to the Dobra tea house has a way of gathering all the elements of the day and...
How Tea Nourishes; Body and Spirit
Nourishing The Body Recognition of tea's health-supporting, mind-alerting, body-calming and spirit-soothing qualities are now making 'news' - as...
Omotenashi in the Japanese Tea Ceremony
When you enter any place as a customer or guest in Japan, you’ll quickly notice that everyone seems to be at your service. It almost makes you feel that you have done them a favor just by visiting!
Lisa Dong’s Korean Tea and Seon Journey
The main purpose of my trip to Korea this time was to study Korean tea and Korean Seon. The only worry was that I would miss my Korean tea friends.
An Introduction to the Chinese Tea Ceremony – Gongfu Cha
A recent discussion on T Ching has inspired me to explain the basic concepts of the Chinese tea ceremony – “gongfu cha.”
“The Way of Tea and Justice” by Becca Stevens
If you have not already met Becca Stevens of Thistle Farms fame, it's time you had the pleasure, and here's your chance. Just look how she shares...
Tiguanyin; A Cup of Compassion
In the face of what on some days seems like a crumbling world, a planet in total chaos, we find ourselves retracting and hiding rather than...
Choosing the Right Tea Ritual for Your Needs
For many, drinking tea is more than just an enjoyable beverage; it’s a way of living and being.
Understanding the concepts of “Tea Person” – Cha’ren and Chadao
I met a Korean monk, who is also a tea master, and asked him whether he could explain the concept of “tea person (Cha’ren).” I had been wondering about the concept for a long while. The Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans…
Tea Gratitude
I find myself thinking about gratitude. So I wrote a tea meditation for my Thanksgiving article.
The Therapeutic Properties of Tea
While writing and subsequently editing each day, I place my laptop atop of the chaxi and crowd a gaiwan…
Is the Tea Ceremony Romantic?
One member of my Tea Dharma Club asked me: “Is the tea ceremony romantic?” I was surprised by this question, so I checked an English dictionary to find what the word “romantic” means.
A Very Brief History of Iranian Tea
In recent months I came across two Iranian films: “A Separation”, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, and a film entitled, “This Is Not a Film.”
Sacred Teaometry; A Tea Lover’s Thoughts on Tea Ceremony
Tied to the study of nature and the mathematical principles found therein,
The Places You’ll Go: Eight Chinese Words to Know Before Visiting a Tea House
These are eight terms related to tea that are essential to learn to enjoy tea at one’s leisure while visiting a tea house in China.
Old Sencha Incense
Incense is a wonderful tool to include when celebrating the Autumnal Equinox…
Sip for Peace; World Day of Peace 2021
As a global community of tea drinkers, sharing the peace we feel in a simple cup of tea and the connectedness we share with people around the world, we can Sip-In …
Tea Is An Experience
Sitting down to drink a cup of tea grants us permission to slow down. Slowing down is a powerful…
Tea in Transformation
Tea is a symbol of unity: To see tea is to know it is tea; then to see tea is to know it is not tea; finally, to see tea again is to know it is still tea.
Spring has sprung; Do You Need a Spring Tea Tonic?
We’ve all heard of spring tonics – how about creating one of your own with a tea of your choice? Anything consumed with a positive mindset can do...
Tea Trade Mazu
Hailing from China’s MeiZhou Island, Tea Trade Mazu arrived in Taiwan during the onset of Japan colonization.
Learning to Wash Tea Cups
It was while my eyes were away, already where I wanted my hands to move next, that I heard the sound…
Solstice Night, Tea, and Light
Three years ago, my second official article on T Ching was The Longest Night, The Winter Solstice, and Tea. Within, I wrote about the meaning of the...
Tea Time for Turbulent Times
Guest contribution by Alex Thomas There is a Chinese curse that goes, “May you live in interesting times.” It’s a curse, mind you - not a blessing....
The Courage to be Grateful
Last Friday for our November 20th article (T Ching Classics: Thanksgiving Blessings), our editor Jaelithe Crislip selected three past Thanksgiving...
Tao in a Teapot
Guest contribution by: Alexander Thomas In the first chapter of the Tao de Ching we read “The Dao that can be conceptualized is not the pristine...
My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 2
Continued from My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 1 I know that others have written about the methodology of reading the leaves, so I will...
My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 1
With the stressors of life during times of personal and global turmoil, I suddenly realized that I never wrote about the Introduction to Tea Leaf...
Find Your Future In A Teacup
According to recent studies, 44% of Americans find themselves unable to be optimistic about the future. In today’s rapidly changing world, sometimes...
Curious Facts About Tea Leaf Reading
The practice of reading tea leaves is one that dates back to medieval European tradition, and recent trends indicate that people are looking to tea...
Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 2
Continued from Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 1 Scroll reads: “Wa Kei Sei Jaku” – The Four Principles of Tea The Tea Master Sen Rikyu...
Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 1
In recent articles (Chanoyu, Temae, and Chadogu and Essential Low-Ranking Chadogu for Ceremony of Tea), I mentioned the traditional green tea...
How Much Gratitude Is There in a Simple Cup of Tea?
It began to snow at 2 PM on Tuesday and didn’t stop. We accumulated eight inches at my house but much more a little way up the hill. And it was...
Our Routines and Our Rituals
Routines give us stability — rituals provide us with sanctuary. We are taught routines at a very young age, and they are believed to be notably...
Buddhism and Tea
I’ve recently broken form and written about a different subject in my tea blog, about my son becoming a samanane, or Thai Buddhist novice monk....
Green Tea: Healing And Serenity In A Cup
Aaron Fisher, in his book The Way of Tea: Reflections on a Life with Tea, notes, “Tea’s ability to both stimulate our awareness and calm us down at...
The Longest Night, The Winter Solstice, and Tea
(By the time this is posted, it will be the day of the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. I held off on writing it, however, until the...
Tea Drinking Cultures From Around the World
Tea, and its thousands of variations from around the world that boast opulent tastes and aromas, is one of the most popular pastime beverages in the...
O Christmas TEA, O Christmas TEA!
Let’s celebrate and rejoice with tea! As you enjoy the holidays, perhaps sipping on your favorite tea, reflecting on the year and dreaming of what...
Tea Aversion and Attraction
Experiences in tea can be vast and varied. Some good, some bad, some we’d like to enjoy again, and some we would rather forget. That said, judging...
A Brief Overview of Buddhist Influence on Tea Culture
Tea now enjoys a prominent place in many Buddhist traditions, but in the time of Gautama Buddha (the first Buddha and the founder of Buddhism), tea...
The Mindfulness of Tea
In mindfulness practice, one of the keys to expanding the ability of mind is to pay attention to the thoughts, feelings and sensations experienced...