Taste the Love
There is an undeniable connection between tea and love.
After all, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. The simple act of sharing a cup of tea is one that comes from the heart - a way to connect and a symbol of care in cultures the world over.
Have you ever wondered why it is that this one plant (camellia sinensis) that can provide us with black, green, white, yellow, oolong and puerh teas has come to be loved by so many, and why it is a cross-cultural symbol of the heart?
Of course, this conversation makes much more sense when it is noted that tea is its own single plant species of evergreen tree or shrub: Camellia sinensis. If your steep does not contain camellia sinensis then it is not truly tea. Other herbs, spices, barks, roots etc. brewed in hot water are better described as a tisane or herbal infusion.
To get at the heart of it, let’s start with the origins of tea in China. This is where the roots of the oldest tea trees in the world grow, and native tea forests still grow wild. Tea is held as sacred in China. In many rural villages small-scale tea growing still takes place in traditional ways, in loving relationship with the Earth. Indigenous tea masters have grown from this love by passing down knowledge over millennia. There is even a certain type of Oolong tea (Ti Kwan Yin) which is named after the compassionate figure Kwan Yin, who offers many myths about the connection between tea and love.
This conversation in February is timely, since this month is considered heart month. Not only because of Valentine’s Day, or Family Day but because it is the month where multiple organizations in North America bring attention to the importance of heart health.
In ancient medical textbooks of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tea plant was revered as a heart medicine. Just as Rose, Cacao or Hawthorn are plants known for having an affinity for the heart. Different types of tea would be prescribed for different ailments related to the heart: physically, emotionally or spiritually. Extensive scientific research today in the West confirms that tea does indeed contain properties that aid the circulatory + cardiovascular systems. This includes regulating cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, reducing risk of heart disease, soothing stress and anxiety…as well as warming and opening our hearts.
Part of the mission of our Team here at Westholme is to offer opportunities for these heart-felt moments, a sense of home and a connection to nature through the experience of all different kinds of teas that can be shared among all different kinds of people.
No matter where you go in the world, tea can offer us common ground. Among all the different tea cultures, there is a connective thread that provides us a way to offer hospitality and encourages us to slow down, take a tea time and find appreciation for the world around us. Tea lends well to inviting someone in for a warm and nourishing beverage (especially during this coldest and darkest time of year), or make your teapot your companion to fill up your own cup.
There are many different perspectives to explore and find what you love within the world of tea: from health benefits, history, geography, culture, mythology, technology, art, serving + steeping techniques, biochemistry, nature, farming and gardening …the list continues.
How do tea and love intertwine in your story? Here is an invitation to steep a loose leaf, pure, organic tea and sip or share with the intention to connect with the heart of it all!