Tea Journey

Digital Table: Tea as “medicine”

Digital Table is back and with a new twist. Let’s both put the kettle on and sit together to talk and get to know each other. While reflecting over our cup of tea we will dive into discussions at our Digital Table together. From discussions on Global Tea Hut subscriptions to what’s going on in the world, from blog post reflections to debating where tea begins and spirituality ends, this series is all about conversation and connection.  So get cozy, let’s curl up and sip at our digital table together.

As I turn on the kettle for our talk, I feel like we need to reflect on the holistic healing of tea. Sipping my tea the last week has been very healing, not only for my mind but my body. As we approached the end of October I found my body was sick from a sinus cold (or sinus-chest-cold of doom as I liked to refer to it). Modern medicine such as “big brand” cold daytime or nighttime has always left me feeling groggy and unable to do regular everyday tasks. But worst off my gut health goes down with it, possibly leading me further into this care for my colitis. This time around I opted for a holistic healing with thousands of years of history to back it up: tea and herbs.

Over 5,000 years of history of tea as medicine

Have you heard of Lu Yu? This writer (no, Tea Scholar) changed how I view tea forever. In his book Cha Ching – which is The Classic of Tea – he documented all things related to tea in the Tang Dynasty. Literally, all the small things we take for granted (like water) are in this book. But the bigger part is the note about additives to this boiled brew, things such as orange peel, ginger, and flowers. In 2010 realizing what Lu Yu adding these ingredients meant, he had just made tea blends. And that made a lightbulb go off –  so-called “blends” are NOT new. Lu Yu documented the first tea blend, and expressed his dislike of it, but also acknowledged the “long-rooted practice.”

This Tea Sage even makes a note (ahem, credit) of Sheng Nong, the first Emperor of China and Herbal medicinal god. This God-Emperor-Person experimented with steeping different leaves and made note of their effects. His biggest discovery was the tea plant, also known as Camellia Sinensis, which he found cured him of a poison he got from some leaf he had steeped. True tea is made from this plant and all others are called Tisanes or Herbal Infusions.

Skeptics of Tea Medicine

In the tea professional community, it is seen as a touchy subject to talk about holistic healing as it relates to tea. The reactions when the subject is brought up quickly go to skeptical: “ Who did the study?”, “What were the steeping methods?”, “How hot was the water?”, “They must have used too much tea or too hot of water.” The reactions go on (and on… and on); it shocks me that some even try to not answer customer questions relating to health. Have you experienced that when shopping for tea, too? I hope not dear friend.

But if you have please keep in mind that not everyone though is like that. I have one friend who is seen as the go-to for tea health information. Michelle Peirce Hamilton is a lovely woman who took her own health into her hands and sought out a Holistic Medicine certification. If you talk to her, she lights up the room with her passion not only for tea but health.

Tea is a Holistic Medicine

Michelle had a talk at a Tea Guild of Canada meeting a few years ago on health. Her well-sourced research silenced many skeptics with proven fact that tea IS a holistic treatment. From findings from The 5th International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Health, she presented these facts for us to take to heart. Some of the findings are:

 

  • Drinking any amount of tea (green, black or oolong) can help reduce the chance of a stroke

  • 5 cups of green tea a day can contribute to preventing some types of cancer

  • Tea is proven to help with mood and problem-solving.

 

Even with science to back it up, there is no better proof than how it makes us feel as we drink it. Take another sip of your tea. Do you feel a calmness wash over you? That my friend is the L-theanine within the tea. It is the anti-stress component which relaxes your body when the tea is sipped telling your body all is okay (even if it’s not). And you may also feel more alert or able to concentrate better on our conversation and our tea.

 As it affects the body and makes us feel better, is there really the need for debating if tea is holistic? I don’t think there is after all one of the definitions of medicine is “healing substances or drugs collectively.”  With that wording then tea is truly medicine for the mind, body, and soul. But dear traveler, what do you think?

 

Digital Table: Tea Journey Manifesto for living the Tea Lifestyle

In this modern age we are in need of a Tea Journey Manifesto to guide our practice with tea and its lifestyle. Digital Table is about community and everyone coming together for a common cause through tea and the cultures, traditions and history that surrounds it.

     The tea world has been changing so much since I started this blog. Who could have guessed that Matcha and even Puerh would become popular in the health field? Consumers are only being told very few health possibilities, which leaves them extream expectations of the beverage. And even worse, not knowing how to prepare it or a bite of the historical/cultural significance. This change is worrying. Information is being diluted through the noise of online and shared to the extreme. For those of us, such as myself, who strive to honor the tradition, history, and culture of the beverage it causes anxiety.

     I work within the health and wellness field currently, and tea slowly has turned to its original roots as medicine. It gives a small glimmer of hope but still, there is more to learn. We each need to do our part to help turn the tides and direct those around us to the information they need, as a community. This is why I sought out to create a Manifesto. 

    No matter what stage you are at with tea this manifesto is for you. My intention and hopes are that it will guide you. Not only with tea but in life itself. Unlike other manifestos out there, this one was intentionally made imperfect. I am not a perfect person so why should this be any different.

In this modern age we are in need of a Tea Journey Manifesto to guide our practice with tea and its lifestyle. Digital Table is about community and everyone coming together for a common cause through tea and the cultures, traditions and history that surrounds it.

Even still it was created from the soul with a cup of tea in hand (Nomigoro Gyokuro from Maiko Tea to be exact). Tea is life which is a lifestyle in itself. We add it to our lives for health, curiosity, or even for spiritual reasons. And our lives change with the addition of it. That, in a nutshell, is your Tea Journey. It starts with picking up or tasting tea for the first time. And you continue to discover something not only new about tea but yourself and the world around you.

 

    I hope you will take this manifesto and hang it somewhere to remind yourself about your roots, or if you are just beginning to give yourself that reminder down the road. We all start at the beginning and continue on. We need to also return to that origin or beginning to progress further. That is what is taught in Japanese Tea Ceremony, and my hope is that you will apply it in your life right now (I also have a post on this topic coming out in March). 

Grab the Tea Journey Manifesto 

 Mine now hangs right next to my desk, very close to where I keep my tea set up while at my desk. Where will you keep yours?

Digital Table: Global Tea Hut May 2015

 Welcome to the Digital Table where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us the last week of every month to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.


      This series was created because the message from Global Tea Hut touched me. It is of my own creation and I receive nothing from them ,but good karma of spreading their message and cause . All past posts can be found under “Digital Table” here


Spring 2011 Wild Purple Tea De Hong, Yunnan

This months packet came with a tea created from an older tree picked by De’Ang Women, an aboriginal group in De Hong. This varietal has been around the market for few years now and has gained some popularity. If you are new to it , purple tea is created from tea leaves that are purple in colour, which occurs from a mutation in the plant itself. It has been mainly made into Pu-erh tea but there are some oolongs out there.
   This tea is a lovely Sheng Pu-erh with a refreshingly sweet aroma from the dry leaf. It gives a smooth soothing feeling in the body. It is suggested as a meditative tea which it truly is suitable for. The taste is like drinking tea in nature. I am describing it this way as it is the best way to do it. It is very much a  living tea picked in its natural surroundings as any plant should be.

Kettle In the off-hand by Wu De

Have you ever tried a day using both hands with everything you do? If you haven’t then I highly suggest you try it out. By balancing the way you do things with both your hands, you will see how we rely on one hand for most things we do (unless you are blessed with being ambidextrous, in which case I am jealous of your gift).
   When you apply this idea to your tea brewing it helps your session flow. The first thing that you can change is by handling your kettle in your off hand. When you do this it allows your dominant hand to be free to help with the pot lid or lid of a gaiwan. This protects your tea ware when you balance how you brew during your tea session. You will no longer have to worry about knocking over teaware during your sessions (I have been close a few times before I made the change). Test it out and you will love how smooth your tea session becomes with practice over time.

Gift: Photograph of Global Tea Hut’s Main Hall Altar

   This months gift touched me, I went the extra mile to laminate it to keep it safe. Seeing the altar which resides at Global Tea Huts Main Hall reminded me of my spiritual practice with tea and the desire to create my own space for such practice in my own home down the road.
   After laminating it I placed the photo in my planner so it is always with me. A reminder of why I continue to write for Tea Journey and the spiritual practice I have with the leaf. In its new home in my Spirituality Journal section in my planner I am reminded each time of why I am on this path when I write a new entry. It is my goal to visit the center in the near future to deepen my practice along side fellow Tea Brothers and Sisters, a moment I can not wait for.

Global Tea Hut is a digital community where tea drinkers enjoy the same tea(s) every month across the world. It is subscription based where all the proceeds go towards a non-profit tea center (Tea Sage Hut) in Taiwan that is open to all. For more information on Global Tea Hut and the center please visit them at:

Global Tea Hut

Tea Sage Hut


**All opinions are my own and subscription is paid by me, as a donation to the tea center


What thoughts and/or feelings come up for you when looking at this months gift? Share in the comments below.

Digital Table: Global Tea Hut April 2015

Welcome to the Digital Table where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.
  This series was created because the message from Global Tea Hut touched me. It is of my own creation and I receive nothing from them ,but good karma of spreading their message and cause . All past posts can be found under “Digital Table” here

Autumn 2014 “Temple Mist” Green Tea  Wu Liang, Yunnan

    After a little hiatus Digital Table is back with a new set up, let’s jump into this packets tea! This time around Global Tea Hut sent the most lovely green tea I have had in a while. It just begged to be brewed but I let the tea rest for two weeks so it could get over its “jet-lag”. This lets it get accustomed to its new home and the altitude change.
     After the enough time passed it was finally the wait was over, it was time to brew. The curly leaves offered a light yellow-green liquor with a refreshing minty touch. The smooth vegetal taste had a note that reminded me of cooked broccoli. This tea was relaxing and perfect for a late evening tea before bed or after a morning meditation (or yoga session).

Circle Towards the center by Wu De

 Fluidity while brewing can be a struggle for anyone. As part of the second installment (we are going to revisit the others over the summer) of the five basics of tea brewing series. In the series Wu De covers the 5 pillars of tea brewing are applicable to all tea practices and methods. Wu de mentions that they are the foundation to build on for most practices but bowl tea they are all you need to know.
    Going back to this issues installment, “circle towards the center”. This brewing basic seems so simple in writing but it takes a little hand-eye coordination and prior practice.  This brewing tip can be broken down to two motions. First “all movements of the left hand are clock wise and” second,  “all movements of the right hand are counter-clock wise”.
  Think of it like the Karate kid who used one hand to “wax on” and “wax off”, going in the same pattern as this tip. The reason for using this method is to ensure nothing gets knocked over and so you can have a smooth tea session.
   Everything you have placed on the left side of your tea space will only be held by your left hand. Which the movement flows towards yourself in a clock-wise motion. Then everything on the right side will only be held by your right hand with a movement that flows in a counter-clock wise motion.
   Try this out with objects that are unbreakable to practice this movement. That way if you need more practice or something slips your favorite pot is safe.

Gift: Gaba Baba Chocolate with BABA Tea

 This months gift was this lovely chocolate (which I ate most of before taking photos). I’ll admit I was unsure what I was going to get myself into when I noticed that turmeric was an ingredient. After getting over my prior thoughts, I tried it. The turmeric was subtle within the chocolate. Overall the chocolate was just what I needed to sweeten up the end of my day.

Global Tea Hut is a digital community where tea drinkers enjoy the same tea(s) every month across the world. It is subscription based where all the proceeds go towards a non-profit tea center (Tea Sage Hut) in Taiwan that is open to all. For more information on Global Tea Hut and the center please visit them at:

Global Tea Hut

Tea Sage Hut


**All opinions are my own and subscription is paid by me, as a donation to the tea center

Digital Table: Global Tea Hut December 2014 + January 2015

 Welcome to the Digital Table where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us the last week of every month to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.


      This series was created because the message from Global Tea Hut touched me. It is of my own creation and I receive nothing from them ,but good karma of spreading their message and cause . All past posts can be found under “Digital Table” here


where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us the last week of every month to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.

December 2014 

 Spring 2007 “Old Man Camphor” Shou Puerh from Lincang, Yunnan

  This tea was a just what I needed when  I was sick a few weeks ago. It gave me a little energy and also casted a calmness over my body. Old Man Camphor smelt very similar to wet forest, earthy and rich. The liquor brewed thick with a sweetness at the end. I noticed a taste of baked cookies that came in before the taste of cooked fruit. Each infusion washed a warmth over you with each sip.

     It was like a big hug from the Global Tea Hut Community . A togetherness that is very similar to the lovely holiday card and photo of Global Tea Hut members. The together they invoked the spirit of the season, family.

January 2015 

 Winter 2014 “Buddha’s Palm” Oolong from Pingling, Taiwan

    Who doesn’t love a roasted oolong on a cold night? They just warm you right up and that is exactly what this tea did. Buddha’s Palm is a lightly roasted rolled oolong that just begged to be steeped. When steeped had delicious smell of dried fruit, perhaps raisins.  The taste reminded me of cooked apple crumble. It just coated the mouth just right.

where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us the last week of every month to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.

“With Slow, Gentle Graceful Movements” by Wu De

 December’s issue continued the discussion of a poem on essence of Gongfu tea. This month we are touching on “slow, gentle graceful movements”. This line refers to the elegance that comes from being awareness of every move you make as you brew. Wu De suggests we “connect to you tea practice at every stage of the process”. We do this by being present and being in the practice of connecting to your tools. 

    To boil it down even further, you need to have a complete awareness (like being aware of your body in yoga) as you brew. Slow down, take your time and make each movement with your full concentration. Focus on each specific task as it arises: when you are rinsing the leaves, boiling water, cleaning etc. Do each task with focus and love.

where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us the last week of every month to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.

“Changing Lives with a Kettle & Some Bowls” by Sam Gibb

   January’s issue touched me with Sam’s article about sharing tea with children. I have always believed that they are our future and should be taught things to make it better. Meditation is just one of those things, and Sam took it up a notch with some tea (why not?). Sharing tea to teach and foster meditation, is an easier manner for those not used to it. It is perfect method to use with kids and teaching anything is always rewarding (even more so with children).
    It all started with camping retreats where Sam early in the morning held his morning ritual of tea and meditation. He was soon surprised with a few kids (and more each day) who joined him. After they all returned back to school some students wanted to continue having tea. This is where Tea Club started.
  Sam stated that his reason for teaching them meditation is that: “society is moving away from stillness and true connection, instead we are all looking at our phones”.  With his teaching his students began to notice nature around them and even started to have tea at home.
  A few of the students wrote about what tea ment for them Amelia wrote a powerful line in hers “Tea for me is a safe, peaceful place”.  For me this shows how important skills such as meditation and tea should be taught at an earlier age. That way we may reach a day where there is more respect and harmony amongst the world. Which may very well lead to peace.


Global Tea Hut is a digital community where tea drinkers enjoy the same tea(s) every month across the world. It is subscription based where all the proceeds go towards a non-profit tea center (Tea Sage Hut) in Taiwan that is open to all. For more information on Global Tea Hut and the center please visit them at:

Global Tea Hut

Tea Sage Hut


**All opinions are my own and subscription is paid by me, as a donation to the tea center