Welcome to Volume 1 of Tea Sessions
Drinking Chinese tea has become a way of life for me over the past 12 years. It began when I moved to Boston in 2005. I found a tea store on Newbury St. called Tealuxe and from there I was hooked. I was surprised to experience the effects drinking tea (camellia sinensis) had on my mind and body. I began to explore the vast world that is tea and it's alchemy. After years of exploring tea, it helped lead me into becoming a practitioner of Chinese medicine. Today I drink tea as a meditation, medicine, a catalyst for creativity and a still mind. If you know me, you know I drink a lot of tea and love to share it.
This on-going series about my adventures with tea is for all of my family, friends and patients who want to know more about tea culture, tea varieties and it's energetic impact on body and mind.
Let's start with the tea I am drinking right now.....
Bai Mu Dan (White Peony) White Tea
The first tea I will share with you is one that I have been really enjoying lately. It is a type of white tea called "Bi Mu Dan", Which means "White Peony". White tea is the least processed of all Chinese teas, all of which come from the Camelia Sinensis plant. The wide varieties of tea come about from different processing technique, where it is grown, different cultivation techniques and varietals. For white tea, the leaves are picked and then spread out to dry. Bi Mu Dan is made by plucking a fresh tea shoot along with two young leaves.
This Bai Mu Dan is from a tea seller called Yunnan Sourcing the tea is called "Fuding White Peony Bai Mu Dan".
here is the link: "Fuding White Peony Bai Mu Dan"
Before a tea session I bring my mind into a meditative or qi gong state. This allows me to have a deeper experience of myself and the energetic effects of the tea I am drinking. To be able to sense qi/energy or have a deeper than usual experience of something, I know that I must "tune" my mind into a certain state. You can think of it like tuning to a particular radio station. If you want to hear the music of a certain radio station you must tune into its frequency.
The environment is calm. The windows are open, bringing fresh air into my office. I believe that tea is always better experienced with as much natural energy around as possible. I have the beautiful "Chant of Metta" (the chant of loving kindness) by Imee Ooi playing in the background.
Today I am brewing my tea in a gaiwan or "lidded cup"as I feel that I can experience the nuances of each brew better. For white tea I fill the gaiwan about half way with leaves.
The tea leaves and buds are furry, silver and green . Just opening the container the aroma of the raw leaves is fresh and light.
First brew 185° water , 15 Seconds
The taste is sweet fresh and light. It's fragrance lingers after I drink it, like a sweet mist permeating through my chest up into my head . There is qi sensation in my chest, throat, tingling at the yuzhen energy center at the occiput and around the crown of the head. On my exhale I can still smell it and feel the mist coursing through my lungs and upper body.
Second brew 185° water , 20-30 Seconds
The second brew still sweet and fresh much like the first. The soup is thicker this time around but still has the sweet fresh fragrance. The qi moves through the chest, lungs and head.
Third brew 185° water , 30 Seconds
The taste is still sweet however the slightly bitter tones are beginning to come out. In this brew the energy of the qi is kicking in strong. I feel a rush of energy to the center of my head and mental clarity is strong. Another brew might put me over the edge of cha dzui (Tea Drunk) . There is also a sensation at yin tang ( energy point in between eyes).
This tea is definitely one that clears the energy of the head and chest. In my opinion it's energetic nature is sweet, slightly bitter and cooling. In Chinese Herbal medicine we say that the leafy herbs tend to ascend while the dense roots and barks tend to descend. I definitely feel the ascending nature as I drink this tea. This is not the tea that I would drink after a heavy meal but one that I would drink to calm & focus my mind. Drink this tea for meditation, reading spiritually nourishing material , having nourishing conversation with friends, or to do creative work.
If this inspires you to drink a great cup of tea.. GREAT! I believe that tea is a powerful medicinal herb and catalyst for appreciating nature and meditation. Let me know how you experience this tea!
