When you hear the words “tea ceremony” or “tea ritual”, what comes to mind? For some, a tea ceremony is a solemn affair with much meditation & quiet reflection with others, to some tea ceremonies are just a fancy term for drinking tea with friends. Every culture has their own tea ceremony & each has their own particular etiquette; some strict, others casual. For instance, in Japan a traditional tea ceremony is quite the affair, involving outfits & a particular tea room that is particularly designed to humble & bring a certain aesthetic of beauty within the imperfect. To take things to a casual climate, Turkey’s tea ritual is much more relaxed. Turkish tea is served in a beautiful çaydanlık, a double stacked teapot, where the bottom kettle is for boiling the water & the top is used for steeping the tea. Once the tea is served to the guests, the host would dilute the tea to each person's taste.
Let’s explore several other cultures & their ceremonies. The one I enjoy is the Chinese gongfu cha ceremony. Gongfu cha translates to “making tea with skill”. Some view gongfu cha as a tea ceremony while it’s just a way of making tea in a casually reverential way. Many people do it with slight differences, though there are many key similarities. For instance, some use a gaiwan while others use a yixing teapot, both are pouring the first steep over their tea pet. Some are poured into serving glasses, or gong dao be, I have been known to pour straight into an English teacup complete with tea saucer. Either way, good teas are being enjoyed with others or on their own.
In India, their tea culture is a bit different. It revolved around Masala Chai, a spice mixture of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon & many other goodies. Camellia sinensis, tea, wasn’t introduced to this lovely mixture until around 1850, though it wasn’t widely known. Once the price of tea became affordable in the region, that’s when tea became a common addition to masala chai. “Masala Chai” translates to “spiced tea”, it’s a fun thought when you realize chai tea is just “tea tea”.
English tea time is less a ceremony & more of a way of life. Afternoon tea is slightly formal with little casual-ness to it. There are many rules, most of which involve protecting the porcelain tea set. For instance, when stirring milk or sugar into your tea, make sure to stir clockwise without allowing the spoon to clank against the side of the cup. Another rule is to NEVER pour milk into a teacup before adding tea, the cold milk could crack the porcelain when the hot tea is added. Though there are many rules to an English afternoon tea, getting together with friends is always a good reason for the gathering.
Whether you find solace in the intricate artistry of a gongfu cha tea ceremony, indulge in the refined traditions of English afternoon tea, or partake in any other tea-infused ritual, the essence lies in the tea itself and the unparalleled joy it brings to your personal or shared moments. In the realm of tea and its rituals, the canvas is yours to paint. Tailor the experience to your unique preferences and daily routine, allowing the soothing embrace of tea to become a cherished companion in the symphony of your life.