The Way of Tea

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future." - Nhat Hanh Tea, a cultural staple in most countries, is also a simple yet effective way to harness the healing powers of plants and deliver them to patients. A Far-Eastern drink brought west by the British, it has long been known for its calming, restful properties. The Chinese and Japanese have created elaborate rituals following the "Tao" (way) of tea that resemble the famous Chinese Tao, in that, through their performance, they induce restful contemplation and a sense of tranquility and harmony. The Chinese began infusing water with tea during the 10th century B.C. By the third century B.C., it had become a common drink, and Tao rituals to induce peace and tranquility were invented. It spread to Japan with Buddhism where the Japanese took the tea ceremony and made it an artistic ritual, with meticulous attention to every detail and movement designed in accordance with the spirit of Zen. The rituals based around the consumption of tea in the Far East are as important, if not more, than the tranquilizing effects of the beverage; by performing the dictated, mindful gestures with precision, one is forced to freeze the rhythm of his daily life in place, rest and contemplate the direction in which he is going. Tea arrived in Russia in the 17th Century but was reserved for the elite due to its high price. Doctors prescribed tea as medicine, mainly for general malaise and gastrointestinal conditions. In the 19th Century, tea prices dropped, and the samovar, a metal urn with an internal heating pipe for boiling water, became popular. Tea became a staple. Still, London is the capital of tea drinkers. In Britain, the renowned afternoon tea began with the Duchess of Bedford in the early 19th Century. The duchess decided to add a light meal over tea between lunch and late dinner to get over her hunger pangs. The concept took off among the upper class and became a popular social venue. Today, some may fall into stereotypes of coffee people and tea people. Coffee people might live on a fast track, drinking coffee "on the go"; tea people, however, may sit with their steaming cup ruminating. I wonder how tea and coffee have shaped our cultures; more specifically, the difference between how Americans view the world and how the tea drinkers of Great Britain do. In a time and in a culture where speed and efficiency are valued, creating rhythmic pauses throughout the day to rest and contemplate might serve us well. I love sipping herbal tea year-round. In the summer, I love using cooling, refreshing herbs in my water bottle. In the winter, I warm my hands around a hot cup of warming, stimulating herbal infusion. Herbal teas, sometimes called tisanes, are made from the infusion or decoction of roots, leaves, flowers, fruits and barks. It is a way to extract the water-soluble compounds from a plant and dissolve them in water so you can ingest them. There is a story, half myth, half true, circulating among herbalists. It tells about a group of elder herbalists getting together one evening for a chat. They started talking about what can best predict the success of an herbal protocol. If you know anything about herbalists, they are very opinionated and extremely passionate about their work. They also tend to never agree with each other on anything. In fact, if you put five herbalists in a room and ask them a question, you will end up with five different answers, all well-argued. So lo and behold… when asked what could best predict the success of an herbal protocol, all herbalists agreed. If the client is prepared to invest the time and effort in preparing themselves a cup of herbal tea, they stand a better chance of benefiting from an herbal protocol. While some people might assume that using a little bottle of tincture will "fix" all their aches and pains. The simple virtue of a cup of tea to warm and heal body and soul is frequently undervalued. Preparing a cup of tea mindfully enables us to take an active role in preparing our food and medicines. Medicinal teas are generally not as potent as tinctures and therefore may not be as effective for acute situations, but they are very effective in the long run for disease prevention and for chronic problems. Tips for making herbal tea: To prepare a medicinal herbal tea, use 15 grams of dried herbs for half a liter of water. Steep while covered for 10 to 30 minutes, strain and drink throughout the day. The aerial parts of the plant are infused, meaning you place them in a cup or a tea kettle, pour hot water over them and let them steep. Roots and bark are decocted by placing them in a pot with water and simmering for 20 to 30 minutes. Some roots, like astragalus, are simmered for 12 hours. You want to cover the tea while it steeps to prevent the plant's medicinal compounds from evaporating with the steam. The longer you steep your tea, the more compounds you extract from the herbs. However, long steeping will make the tea bitter. Whether you use your teatime for meditation or for celebrating with friends, we hope you enjoy your tea.