Tea, the beverage drunk more in the world than any beverage other than water, is more than just something to drink. Wherever it is consumed there is meaning beyond simple act of fluid passing from cup to mouth. This is especially true when tea is shared with one or more other people.
Tea is the world's most frequently used social beverage. Though tea ceremonies vary from culture to culture, almost every culture that includes tea includes special times and ways to drink it. While the Japanese tea ceremony is famous, there are less known ceremonies celebrated in Korea, China, and the Middle East. And what is afternoon tea if not a tea ceremony?
Tea customs have made it into science fiction. Capt. Jean Luc Picard of Star Trek, the Next Generation, is known for his frequently spoken order to the food replicators, "Tea, Earl Grey, hot." However, he also offers it to guests. Inara, of Firefly, uses tea in The Companion Welcoming Ceremony. And of course, when Arthur Dent of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is so disoriented by the recent events of his life that he long for a cup of tea.
Where tea is shared, custom is inherently involved. It doesn't have to be a ceremony or a ritual, just a way of doing things and a special time for doing it. Tea is meaningful. It comforts us in the hard and sad times and brings us together for happy social times. We all have our personal tea customs.
Now Tea Escapades, a tea blog, is asking you to share your tea customs. Simply write 350 words or less about a tea ceremony observed by you or your family and you'll be entered for a chance to win a gift basket filled with teas from Mighty Leaf Tea and a Tea Top Brew Mug. For the rules and other details, go to Tea Escapade. The deadline for submission is 11:59 December 31, 2009.
I am not running this contest. To find out how to submit, you need to go to click on the Tea Escapades link above.
Comments
My mother used to make tea, in the same teapot, which was never washed up. The tea was supposed to taste better.
Great article love the info on customs and seeing how others, 'do it'.
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