It’s 2021. It’s a new year. You might as well start the year by trying out some new recipes and it will be hard for you to go wrong with a tea recipe that is more than a few centuries old. The Asian continent is still celebrated for its unique and remarkable tea culture. Namely in China, preparing tea is more than just mere routine, it is a ritual.
As with all rituals, every bit and component of the tea drinking ceremony is deemed to be as important as the other. Tea leaves become more than just ingredients and turn into precursors of a season that’s yet to come. It is a common practice in China to have different teas named after each season, tough the spring crop tea is by far the most popular.
Its benefits are universal and undisputed. The caffeinated substances inherent to the tea are known to improve the mood and relax the nerves. Chinese tea, in particular, is known for improving memory and reducing diabetes. There are a couple of traditional spring teas to choose from. Black tea is known for promoting energy boosts, whereas Pu-erh tea is mostly known for its contributions towards weight loss. You might even go for the floral variations found in such sweet, floral teas such as the daffodil root tea or the oolong tea, which is becoming increasingly popular in Western culture.
You might choose to try one of the fruit flavored teas at your local specialty shop. There are a few tricks you can use in order to find a tea that is most suited to your personal tastes and preferences. One way to pick your favorite is to grab a handful of tea leaves and examine the best shape and bent of each one. Tea lovers would add that rubbing and touching the leaves with your thumb will be key to give the feel of each leaf. Then weight them in your hands and inhale.
Tea fragrances are usually the most reliable indicators of all the flavors and nutrients you are about to find in those selected leaves. The brewed tea will then be your source of all the goodness which is being extracted straight from the leaves. Slowly pour hot water over the leaves and enjoy this centuries old ritual which most tea lover find to be both soothing and relaxing.
Keep in mind that the best spring tea is one that can be drunk neat and one that won’t leave too many leaves on the bottom of the empty cup. Take your time preparing your tea, as the preparation is merely part of the ceremony.
Practice mindfulness as you set up the saucer and the cup on the table. You will most likely be surprised at the instant effect, you will feel as though as the ticking clocked has somehow slowed down so as to allow for this small tea break. So, go ahead and welcome Spring with your very own freshly brewed cup of tea.