healthy you
| W E L L -B E IN G
Tea for One
Try this elegant ceremony the next time you need soothing.
BY KATHLEEN PARRISH
FIVE TEAS
TO TRY
■ Darjeeling—a
much-prized,
flowery-tasting
tea from India.
■ Keemun—a
black Chinese
tea with a rich
sweet taste.
■ Lapsang
Souchong—A
large-leaf tea
im pregnated
with pinewood
smoke.
■ Sencha—green
tea from Japan
■ Oolong tea—an
aromatic tea with
dark fruit and
chocolate notes.
f
or over 5,000 years, the Chinese and
other ancient cultures have been
aware of the many healing proper-
ties of tea. “There is literally
nothing better you can do for your
physical self than drink tea,” says James
Norwood Pratt, founder of Tea Society and
author of
T h e N e w Tea L o v e r ’s T re asu ry.
“It
fights everything from tooth decay to cancer. It’s
impossible to name any one substance that
confers as many benefits as tea.”
And the leafy plant has more than physical
benefits. “Tea cleans the mind and soul as well
as the body,” says Jennifer Sauer, author of
T h e
W ay to T e a : Y o u r A d v e n tu re G u id e to S a n
F ra n c is c o Tea C u ltu re .
The following tea party
for one creates a sense of intimacy with the one
person you need to know best—you—and offers
a feeling of sanctuary that will have you coming
away relaxed and revitalized.
3.
Steep the tea in a small pot to the desired
strength. If you’re using green tea, never use
boiling water. “You want to extract the nectar
contained in the leaf, not cook the tea,” says Pratt.
Use water 30 degrees below the boiling point and
steep the leaves for less than two minutes.
4.
While the tea is steeping, notice what’s going
on around you—the light, the temperature, the
weather. Don’t think; just observe.
5.
Before you take your first sip, give thanks for
the quiet moment you have created.
6
. During each subsequent sip give thanks for a
different aspect of your life, such as friends,
health, children, spouse, job.
7.
On the last sip of tea, smile softly to yourself
and say one last sentiment of gratitude, such as, “I
give thanks for the great
8
. As you clean the teaware,
ritual
1.
Create an atmosphere of relaxation by arrang-
ing fresh cut flowers and playing soothing music.
2.
Find a quiet comfortable place either on the
floor or in a chair by a window so you can benefit
from the natural light.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
