Tea Grotto Blog

I am fresh from traveling to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and the center of Chanoyu, the Japanese Way of Tea, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. We also visited Taiwan the heartland of many of the world’s finest and rare Oolong teas. Impressed by so many alluring sights and sounds what has remained with me most is the friendliness and generous hospitality of our tea hosts.

In our book Tea Here Now chapter 8, Sharing Tea: the essence of hospitality, captures and expresses this quality that we derive from tea drinking:

“Showing sincere friendliness, generosity , and consideration for all who enter our world is the hospitality of tea. The word “hospitality“ derives from the same root word as “hospital,“ originally a place of shelter and rest for travelers. Whether we offer tea to a weary traveler or invite a guest to a fancy tea party, the act of opening our hearts and homes to another touches the essence of our humanness. The sharing of tea provides nourishment, creates comfort, and puts all at ease.“

Whether we were served a frothy, green bowl of Japanese matcha in the ceremonial tea room by a fellow chajin or a hearty cup of Japanese hojicha with sweets in a wabi-style teahouse, or when we visited the tea farmers at Tung Ting mountain and sipped fragrant jade green oolong tea with them our experience was the same—tea creates a bond of friendship between us. So potent was this experience that now when I sit to have my morning cup of tea I remember the smiling faces and gracious gestures of these wonderful tea friends.

Perhaps for part of your New Years resolution you will give yourself the gift of shared tea time. The next time you prepare to drink a cup of tea consider if you would better appreciate it with an other? Join them for an outing to The Tea Grotto or for a spontaneous drop-in to your home. Bring joy to life with tea!