Tea For Vitality

Sipping a steaming tea is a refined and relaxing ritual. A cuppa can charge you for the day, sustain you through the afternoon, soothe you to sleep or nurse you back to health. Discover your cup of tea by dipping into these terrific brews.

- Caroline Robertson

It’s always “teatime” according to the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. An afternoon tea party is a wonderful way to unwind and connect with loved ones. Friendships are forged over a warm cuppa as Monty Python proclaimed, “Make tea, not war.” Many find a tea break brings serenity, such as Chinese poet Lu Tong who said, “When I drink tea, I am conscious of peace. The cool breath of heaven rises in my sleeves and blows my cares away.” Tea can console us like a hug in a cup and wash away worries like an internal bath. The English are known for their devotion to tea, including British politician William Ewart Gladstone who said, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you.”

Tea is steeped in historical traditions. The ninth-century Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), derived from Zen Buddhism, cultivates calm, mindfulness and awareness of impermanence. Lipton.com suggests a simple version of the complex Japanese tea ceremony. Set a stylish table with a flower arrangement and sweets. Serve your guests a high-quality matcha or sencha tea from a decorative tea set. Provide mini napkins to wipe the side of each tea bowl before sipping. Each guest can then share what they are thankful for.