The importance that tea has had and continues to have in many cultures is undeniable, so much so that it caused wars such as the Opium War or the American War of Independence, it was so valuable that it was even exchanged for horses, as in the Horse and Tea Route. There are those who maintain that a large part of the development of the Industrial Revolution, and the greatness of the United Kingdom, is due to tea!
Tea has always been part of the gifts that China has given to the rulers of other countries, so many of them became regular drinkers of the infusion, which permeated the custom of consuming this drink to their people, as is the case in Morocco, Russia, England, Holland, etc.
But returning to the initial question, what does it mean to drink Tea?
For practitioners of the different tea ceremonies that exist, drinking tea is a means to achieve perfection, it is a way to flatter a guest, it is a way of life.
In Cha Do (the way of Tea) they teach that the “Cha no yu” ceremony is a means to achieve the 4 aspects outlined by the Zen master, Sen –No – Rikyu:
Respect “kei” : The purpose of the ceremony is always to honor the guest and make them feel comfortable. All things are respected and their existence is appreciated.
Harmony “wa ”: between people and with nature, with the place, with utensils and the way they are used.
Purity “sei” : The place is kept as simple as possible, it is not about filling the space or the senses. The utensils have a ritual of cleaning as a symbol of the clarification of the mind. Inner purity, neatness.
Peace or serenity “yaku” : The pure interest in Tea awakens in us a certain peace since it must keep a time and a place, once we follow the previous steps, we achieve tranquility and peace of mind.
The tea house always has a low door so that everyone bows upon entering as a symbol of humility. When entering there, “we are all equal.”
It is also a way of reminding us of the fragility of our lives and the importance of living each moment to the fullest. This concept is referred to as “ichi-go ichi-e” which means “just this once” and reminds us that the occasion will not be repeated, each meeting and each moment in our life is unique.
With this in mind, “every meeting is unique, this will not be repeated” I can summarize what drinking Tea means to me:
The fact that EURO TE is made of loose tea leaves (not in tea bags) makes it necessary to prepare it with special utensils and in a special way. When you prepare it, you pause in your day, you take the time to prepare your tea, you enjoy its preparation, you don't rush, you measure the necessary amount for your cup or teapot, you heat the water to the ideal point, you watch the leaves unroll and let them give you all their flavor and benefits; so you leave the leaves for a few minutes, without rushing them, without crushing them, you strain the infusion, you take the cup in your hands and bring it to your nose, you close your eyes and smell all the delicious aromas it brings for you, you savor it and enjoy it, it is a pleasure that you prepared with care and attention.
And if you are lucky enough to be with someone else, offer them in that cup everything you feel for them, flatter them, offer them that consciously prepared cup and enjoy their company.
Olivia Medina
Tea Master, EURO TEA
PS For the Japanese, “A person without Tea” is someone who does not understand the simple things in life.