Why today I feel inclined to write about ‘a sip of tea’ is something that is yet unknown to me. But I certainly feel that writing about it, in itself, would be a journey for this quest.
A Sip of Lemon Tea.
Many a times, when it feels monotonous with prolonged work schedule or while going through a deep contemplation over a topic, or even while leisurely walking through my roof top garden, the urge to take a sip of lemon tea sets in me. Though I take milk tea when sitting together with family members, specially with mother; but when alone, I prefer lemon tea.
I still remember the days of year’2004 in Delhi, when one evening I heard the announcement of a radio jockey on a FM radio channel; who was saying, “Hello Delhi, I have just had this refreshing cup of Lemon tea, and that the evening sky is all set to pour, here is this number for you to make your evening even more moist and romantic. Enjoy”. And plays a rain song.
Thus it is quite common to see persons finding satisfaction and calm in having tea. Lemon tea for me is not just a beverage. To me it is microcosm of something enormous. This feel in me for lemon tea, emanates from my subconscious, which is very much permeable to the beauty and blessings of nature.
Presence of lemon juice in lemon tea reminds me of lemon in aggregate. Its refreshingly tangy smell is so captivating. Also it enhances the flavour and adds aroma to many dishes and drinks. Transparent orange coloured lemon tea when served in white porcelain cups or in transparent sparkling glass tumblers; looks so heavenly and super enticing!
Tea Farms And Their History.
The dried tea leaves which is the main base of any tea come from tea shrubs, now grown on tea farms. Farming of tree at mass level dates back to colonial era. It was outcome of convergence of nature, human labour, technology and capital.
In the early 1820s, the British East India Company began large scale production of tea in Assam(India),of a tree variety traditionally brewed by the Singpho tribe. In 1837 the first English tea garden was established at Chabua in Upper Assam. Darjeeling tea is another famous variety of tea.
Mountain slopes of warm humid tropical climate have luxurious growth of tea shrubs. Vast stretches of well pruned tea gardens, with small processing unit in a corner, beautiful sinuous roads in between, and group of women dexterously picking tea leaves…it is a completely different world! Leaves from this surreal world, would certainly have the magic that you feel in every sip from your tea cup.
Tea is brewed by pouring boiling water over the dried tea leaves and letting them soaked for couple of minutes. The tea is then strained, sweetened if desired, and served. Many brands produce herbal tea bags for such infusion.
Tea Ceremonies in Japan.
Medicinal benefits apart, ancient societies of Japan have found meditational values in tea making. They observe a ceremony called “Chanoyu” meaning “way of tea”.
Though it is a more sophisticated ritual, the important thing is that when the tea is served, you allow time to still, putting daily worries, criticisms and complaints out of your mind. And the participants should appreciate that the time they will spend drinking tea, is extraordinary and will never happen again.
Tea Culture In India and South Asia.
In India, and also in neighbouring countries, tea is served as welcome drink along with snacks. A combination of additives are added in tea to make it special in a desired way. Such combination of additives may be like – with lemon, with milk, with milk and cardamom, with milk and ginger, with clove, and the list may go on.
A good deal of aesthetics is involved in deciding the silhouette and colour of the teacups and teapots. However in many teashops in India, it is served in crude unglazed baked clay teacups locally called “kulhads”. When tea is served in these “kulhads”, aroma of earth also gets infused in it giving it a distinct flavour. This tea is very much popular in India.
When the tea seller gracefully pours the tea into clay teacups from a height, the creamy froth gets accumulated at the top. And this gives a head start and sets the mood upbeat to relish your tea.
Rediscover Yourself With Sip of Tea.
While reading this book named “Ichigo Ichie” by H. Garcia and E. Miralles, my eyes are tucked on a line which says, “It is a great idea to have regular tea with yourself.”
Of course, while taking sip of tea, it feels like having an opportunity to have a date with ourselves, keeping the distractions of worries, criticisms, complaints, competitions out of the mind, and there is only you, your time and your cup of tea!
And this meditative session with sips of tea may throw open the basketful of tiny pleasures, you have never noticed.