The Perfect Cup (Part 2)
A few weeks ago I had a great phone call reconnecting with an old friend. We both fell down the rabbit-hole of tea at the same time. The conversation got me thinking about the motivations behind my interests regarding the education of others in the world of tea. What’s more important, the ceremony or the tea?
The ceremony is absolutely important. The modern tea ceremony has cultural significance dating back almost 800 years. Knowing it gives you a key to unlocking basic understanding of a culture and a way of life. Being able to perform the ceremony provides access to a fantastic mindful meditation while unlocking the full flavor potential of tea.
Is this more important than tea? No. I don’t think so at all.
This question got me thinking about my favorite tea and, more specifically, my favorite cup of tea. Over the years I’ve come to realize that asking about my favorite tea is like asking about my favorite child. I can’t single one out over another. They each have different attributes and characteristics that make them appealing and unique.
A few years ago I’d be able to tell you my favorite tea down to the region, farm, and even season. I realize now that my thinking was far too obtuse. Tea is about meditation and discovery. What is my favorite tea? Why not the cup I’m currently enjoying?
The perfect cup of tea is the one I share with my wife. The perfect cup is the one that is a random purchase and is surprisingly good. The perfect cup is the one that has a flavor that takes me back to a distant memory.
I fear that many people can create a sense of elitism around tea. I believe it’s okay not to know about the 3 stages of water boiling or the 4 styles of pouring from your kettle. Too many parts and processes can be daunting and distracting. While it’s important to know how to extract the most flavor from the tea, let’s not forget the ceremony wouldn’t even exist without the leaves.
To bring it back around. My conversation with my old friend reaffirmed the reasons why I fell in love with tea and why I’m so excited to share my experiences with all of you.
Thank you for reading. See you next time.