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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 25, 2009 8:46:55 GMT
… “When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things. Where is beauty to be found? In great things that, like everything else, are doomed to die, or in small things that aspire to nothing, yet know how to set a jewel of infinity in a single moment? The tea ritual: such a precise repetition of the same gestures and the same tastes; accession to simple authentic and refined sensations, a license given to all, at little cost, to become aristocrats of taste, because tea is the beverage of the wealthy and of the poor; the tea ritual, therefore, has the extraordinary virtue of introducing into the absurdity of our lives an aperture of serene harmony. Yes, the world may aspire to vacuousness, lost souls mourn beauty, insignificance surrounds us. Then let us drink a cup of tea. Silence descends, one hears the wind outside, autumn leaves rustle and take flight, the cat sleeps in a warm pool of light. And, with each swallow, time is sublimed." Subject heading and paragraphs above from The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, translated by Alison Anderson. Original title: L'elégance du hérisson----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tea represents both friendship and solitude, is considered representative of countries as far flung as Japan, England, and Russia, has given rise to the tradition of tearooms in Britain and that of the tea ceremony in Japan, has had entire series of paintings devoted to it, and inspires such philosophic raptures as quoted above. Think of all the ways of preparing tea, and the artistry of design arising from the various methods. Mary Cassatt, "Afternoon Tea"  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 11:14:24 GMT
What a wonderful thread Bixa,had thought of something similar. So many novels I've read and the one consistent thread as it where that runs through them is the ritual of tea. Has always intrigued me.
I think of the many times that taking tea with someone during a time of crisis,using that time over a shared cup to discuss good news and bad,and how it has served as a facilitator of sorts.
As a child there was a time when my mother was emotionally not available to me due to depression and the losses she suffered in a very brief period of time.
I latched on to a woman neighbor,the town librarian, for company and nurturing. Every day at the same time I had tea with her after she came home from work. This was a foreign ritual to me (in N.Y.) but I always cherished that time with her and recall it fondly.
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Post by Jazz on Mar 26, 2009 10:35:18 GMT
The taking of tea is the loveliest memory of my childhood. Each night, about 10 PM we would have tea and scones and homemade jam. All experiences, simple daily moments, happiness, or grief were shared with a simple cup of tea. I love the Moroccan tea glasses and am drinking tea out of the blue one,   antique Moroccan with silver,  Chinese traditional,  Chinese with lid,  the modern version of the tea glass, the Bodum...your fingers won't burn,   |
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Post by Jazz on Mar 26, 2009 11:05:32 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Mar 26, 2009 12:50:01 GMT
Errrr......Jazz......can I blow my own trumpet and say I've been in tea houses in all those places?
Under the bridge in Esfahan is my favourite.
Carry on, sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2009 13:45:46 GMT
Mark,do you have any pictures? Would love to see them. Jazz, these are outstanding. Had a feeling that this thread "spoke" to you.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 26, 2009 13:57:37 GMT
My time in Iran and Turkey was many years ago just before digital cameras were popular. I do have some but they are in storage in a different country.
Plus, my job was such that I always felt there was plenty of other times to take them instead of that particular visit. I ended up not taking many and then not going back again.
So not much use I am then.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2009 14:19:43 GMT
I wouldn't go that far. I'm sure there's much you can share about your visit with words.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 26, 2009 15:00:49 GMT
What a gorgeous and illuminating response, Jazz! I've seen the Moroccan glasses before, but had no idea they were for tea. How is tea drunk there? I have a dim idea they drink a lot of mint tea, but maybe not. Also, is tea traditionally served quite sweet there?
The wish list of tea houses is a feast for the eyes. I think my favorite is the Turkish one with all the rugs and the intriguing window on the back wall.
If you don't mind my asking, was the tea drinking custom in your home because of a British background, or something particular to your part of Canada?
Mark, please ~~ can you tell something about the tea house customs in those different places?
Also, is the one in Cairo a bookstore, or are those volumes there for the use of the tea house customers? And, is that mother of pearl inset into the chairs? Ooooooo!
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Post by bjd on Mar 26, 2009 15:09:49 GMT
Tea drinking is very common in many places outside Britain. In Poland, if anyone drops in the first thing offered is tea. In Russia too. In Turkish bazaars, people sit and drink tea, as I see from the pictures they do in Iran as well. But not with milk.
In Kenya, there is a permanent thermos full of sweet, milky tea available for guests, and it's often the only drink you can get in small places called hotels, which are not hotels but a shack serving tea. I imagine the milk and sugar are the British influence.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2009 15:19:22 GMT
A lot of people go to have tea at Ladurée in Paris, but I'm not sure if the tea is what they are most interested in.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2009 15:10:47 GMT
 In this Cassatt painting you can see the nod she gives to the tea ceremony of the Japanese,note the move from formal silver tea service to ceramic. Also, see some Toulouse-Lautrec |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2009 11:45:12 GMT
 Here is a picture of the plant from which tea is produced,Black tea that is. It is a species of Camellia.Beautiful. |
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Post by Jazz on Mar 31, 2009 19:44:00 GMT
 Tea house in the Forbidden City, Scott Burdick, 2000.  Unknown, 19th century.  a tea house in Japan. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2009 2:56:29 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 1, 2009 3:28:41 GMT
*sigh* So many beautiful things inspired by tea!
Has anyone attended a Japanese or Chinese tea ceremony?
When I was in high school the mother of one of my friends held a tea party for us girls. The family was originally from Russia, and it was the first time I'd been exposed to that beautiful paraphernalia and the very practical extra hot water for the tea. I've always been grateful for that elegant but not intimidating experience that was really quite fun.
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Post by spindrift on May 2, 2009 13:54:47 GMT
I have attended one Japanese tea ceremony. It was not a ceremony put on for foreigners. Our Buddhist sensei invited us to his specially built 'place'. I'll find out the Japanese word for it. His wife, dressed in a kimono, made the tea and presented it to us. She had spent many years studying the art of the tea ceremony.
Before we arrived we had spent much time listening to and learning about how to behave and comport ourselves so as to show the utmost respect for our hosts and bring some credit to ourselves. I hope we did all right.
At least one thing was wrong however. My gf wore a pink dress for the occasion. We later discovered that it is not done to wear pink in Japan (if one wants to be well thought of). Pink is the colour associated with fast women/prostitutes. Nor could women dress in trousers. We had to wear skirts of a certain length and we had to kneel and be utterly still for an hour (or more)...I forget but it was a long time. I will post some pictures. We also had to learn some Japanese words to compliment our hosts on their beautiful ceramic cups and the items they offered us.
We were most honoured to be invited and attend. More later.
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Post by spindrift on May 2, 2009 17:12:56 GMT
This was a cup of tea given to me at Muktinath, a place of pilgrimage in the Annapurnas, Nepal. Note the Tibetan sugar container. It's made of wood.  |
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Post by Jazz on May 2, 2009 19:24:32 GMT
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Post by Jazz on May 2, 2009 19:40:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2009 20:42:54 GMT
I do not think that I could get pleasure from a Japanese tea ceremony or even respect its constraints. It contradicts almost all of my personal values.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 1:40:52 GMT
I too,I think the concept is fascinating and the art and poetry derived from are all quite beautiful from a cultural perspective but to participate I would not enjoy. Too rigid and ceremonial and I look really good in pink.
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Post by auntieannie on May 3, 2009 15:15:16 GMT
tea ... thé (French) te (Italian, with accent grave), tsai (Greek, and Russian if I am not mistaken), chai (Hindi).
I once angered an English traveller on a looong train journey in India, by my response to his "how did they come up with "chai" for "tea"?. I retorted that maybe the right question was how did the brits come up with "tea" for "chai" and joked about how the first english-speaking person who came up with "tea" might have stumbled on the word (cha - ta - tea!)
Tea in India is always strong, usually very sweet, very milky (everything boiled together for a loong loong time) and mildly spicy. Chai masala is a very mild spice mix, I will endeavour to find the recipe if you wish to re-create it at home rather than buying these spice mixes.
In Switzerland, we have a long tradition of using herbs to flavour water. These are also part of the tradition of herbal/natural medicine. It is in danger of being lost, though.
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Post by auntieannie on May 4, 2009 21:01:25 GMT
oops! wrong section! beautiful thread, though!
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2009 21:19:02 GMT
Annie, go to the Museum of Macau and all will be explained about the split in the words of the world between "tea" and "chai."
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Post by bixaorellana on May 4, 2009 23:41:06 GMT
Why did you say it's the wrong section, Annie?
Can you start a thread about herbal teas? They really deserve more notice for the variety of tastes and for all the psychological and physical benefits.
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Post by komsomol on May 5, 2009 19:37:20 GMT
Around the samovar  |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 5, 2009 20:34:32 GMT
NICE, Komsomol! Do you know anything about that picture? It appears in this interesting blog post about the samovar, but with no details. More samovar-as-subject pics. Interesting that these were done the same year.   The Samovar, 1926, William McGregor Paxton At the Samovar, 1926, Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin |
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 11, 2017 1:20:07 GMT
Important tea question ~
I recently learned that some people -- everyone? -- thinks that the tea bag should be left in the cup. Is this a general rule, a regional eccentricity or what? I always thought the bag should be removed once the tea attained the desired strength. Also, if it's not supposed to be removed, why are there special little saucers made to hold the spent bag?
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Post by mich64 on Sept 11, 2017 1:28:39 GMT
I guess it is an individual preference but I do not leave the bag in my teacup. But, I do leave the bag in when I buy a take away tea, but I pull the string up so the bag in not sitting on the bottom of the cup but more so half way up.
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