The art of mindful tea drinking
Put the kettle on, it’s time for an ancient and relaxing ritual in a cup of tea
Text: Kenny Leong
When Sage of Tea Lu Yu published his magnum opus The Classic of Tea some 1,300 years ago, he set in motion a trend that elevated tea from its status as a medicinal herbal ‘soup’ to a noble drink imbued with lofty virtues and ideals worthy of artistic and literary pursuit. Just like that, the art of tea drinking was born.
Countless generations of tea practitioners were inspired to follow in the Tea Sage’s footsteps, as they sought to attain the perfection of virtues through tea preparation and enjoyment. This observance was particularly prevalent in Buddhist temples, since it was discovered that tea wasn’t just a delicious elixir, it also helped with focus and alertness through long sustained periods of meditation.
Today, we know that tea’s effectiveness at staving off lethargy and sleepiness boils down to a type of amino acid it contains, called theanine. Like caffeine in coffee, theanine promotes a heightened level of awareness, focus, and energy; but theanine differs from caffeine in that its stimulating effects are balanced by a sense of relaxation, calmness, endurance, and attention.
Tea therefore was pivotal in old monastic practices, which in turn inspired the modern tea ceremony — the latter’s seemingly rigid movements and austere spirit arguably trace their roots to the temples of old. From the preparation of the brazier and the boiling of water, to the steeping of tea and the raising of the teacup, every action is directed with ceremonial ritualistic intent, for they are outward signs of discipline, contemplation, and stillness of the mind and soul.
Indeed, the modern form of tea ceremony is a form of “moving meditation” where tea and rhythmic physical movements are used to focus and centre the heart and mind — the body communicates the invisible aspiration of mindfulness. The ritual encourages you to be in the present and to live and experience the moment. Hence a cup of tea is not an escape from life, but the very means by which to live it. The art of mindful tea drinking, then, encourages us to savour the present moment, rather than to escape it.
Simple mindful tea exercises are a good way to start. Try sitting back with a bowl of tea without anything (such as your mobile devices) to distract you. Take five minutes to centre your mind, breathe slowly but intentionally, then sip your tea with full focus and awareness, paying particular attention to how it tastes and how it feels. Is it rich and mellow? Is it bitter and astringent? Or is it sweet and lasting? Refrain from making judgements about what you like or don’t like about it, instead accept what is in the bowl with a grateful heart. Allow yourself to rest in the moment and repeat the exercise until the tea is finished — you may be surprised by how this simple exercise can leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.
Basic tea brewing
To brew tea well, there are some parameters to keep in mind: water temperature, the amount of water to tealeaves, and steeping duration. Teas that are very lightly processed, such as white tea, green tea, and some oolongs, are typically brewed between 80°C to 90°C. Teas that are more heavily processed (heavy oxidation and baking) such as dark oolongs and black tea should be brewed around 95°C to 98°C. The steeping duration is determined by the style of tea and how much you are using; most tea packaging comes with general brewing guidelines, but feel free to adjust. Longer steeps extract more compounds in the tealeaves, so you get a stronger brew but it may become bitter or astringent; shorter extractions tend to be lighter and sweeter but may sometimes lack body and flavour.
Creating your own tea infusions
Some simple tea blends have long been enjoyed for their soothing, nourishing properties. A tea infusion of chrysanthemum flowers with wolfberries is a highly popular antioxidant-packed tisane reputed to reduce “heatiness”, relieve headaches, and restore visual clarity. A similar recipe involves steeping oolong tea with dried longans, jujubes, rosebuds, and sugar (optional) to taste.
If blending your own tisanes seems daunting, tea merchants such as Infusion-de-vie or Monogram carry various delicious offerings ready to be brewed straight out of the box. If, however, you prefer more unusual teas not augmented with ingredients, try Wuyi oolong and pu’er offered by Eagle Tea Merchant — the artisanal teas are individually sourced from independent growers and makers from appellations prized for their pristine conditions and environments.
