How do you take your tea?
As the second-most popular beverage in the world, it is not surprising that many
practices have developed worldwide to enjoy tea. In this installment of
TeaMuse, we'll take a journey through the world of tea (no passport required!)
and explore the many customs that have been infused into different cultures.
In China, the original homeland of tea, a cup of Oolong or green tea is the
customary way to welcome a guest. In fact, if tea is not offered immediately by
the host, it is clear that he is being either intentionally or absent-mindedly
rude.
Samovar
In Ireland, where people drink more tea than anywhere else in the world, they
take their tea regularly at 11am, 3-5pm and 6pm. And the Irish make it a
strong cup (insert your favorite "too many Guinnesses" joke at your discretion).
The custom is to add the milk to the tea cup first, then pour in the tea.
Irish
breakfast tea is often a strong blend of Assam and Ceylon that most people would
only drink for breakfast, though the Irish would enjoy this tea all day long.
Even during the traditional Irish wake, after a family member has passed away,
it's expected that a pot would be continuously boiling to make tea for company.
Likewise, in Russia, to make certain that there was a constant supply of freshly
brewed tea available, the Russians developed their own way of brewing-- a
samovar. The large boiler, which is like a giant kettle, keeps water hot all day
long. A small teapot is filled with a tea concentrate sits on top. This way, a
cup of hot tea is available anytime by simply mixing a small amount of
concentrated tea with the hot water.
In Morocco, shopkeepers greet prospective customers with a glass of sweet,
mint-flavored green tea which has become known as "Moroccan Mint." This can
either be served hot or cold and at various levels of sweetness (probably
depending on how big the sale).
Chanoyu
It was the British (or to be more precise, Anna, the seventh duchess of
Bedford), who introduced the delectable custom of afternoon tea to the Western
world in the early 1800s. At that time, the English only ate two main meals a
day - a hearty breakfast and enormous dinner. Somewhere in between these meals,
Anna experienced a "sinking feeling" and so began to prepare small snacks
accompanied by tea. The trend quickly spread and grew into a popular tradition.
Another remarkable tea custom is the Japanese tea ceremony. Chanoyu, or "the hot
water for tea," has become an important part of Japanese culture. This ritual,
first introduced to Japan over five hundred years ago by Buddhist monks from
China, was once exclusively practiced by men. Fortunately, it is now accepted
that both men and women are welcome to study and perform. The Japanese consider
the tea ceremony an expression of the synthesis of man, spirit and nature (and,
of course, tea), where simplicity brings wisdom.
There are specific guidelines to drive every aspect of the ceremony, from the
choice of food, utensils, and topics of conversation to the selection of guests.
The sprinkling of water around a host's entry gate informs guests that
preparations are complete and they are welcome to come in. As they remove their
coats and shoes, slip into sandals, and walk down the garden path to the
teahouse. Every gesture by the host and his or her guests is part of a
preordained ritual. The host or hostess places a small amount of powdered green
tea, called "Matcha," into a tea bowl and, using a bamboo whisk and water, and
whips it into a light green froth.
Whether tea is tea is sipped slowly, offered enticingly, or chugged "on-the-go,"
it is clear that tea has saturated deep into the essence of almost all cultures
in this wide world. These practices were created out of tea's great enjoyment
and the longevity of the customs is testament to the delicacy and delicious
variety available with this wonderful plant. This month, my loyal readers, I
urge you to try something new. Whether that is a new custom or simply a
different tea, you'll be pleasantly surprised with your discovery.
