If It Weren't For Tea

The Measly Leaf That Brought Empires To Their Knees

- Tri Huu Luu

Growing up in Vietnam, tea drinking has always been a ritual in my family. Back then, however, I did not appreciate or understand why people were so interested in tea. Over several years, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend more time in Buddhist temples around Asia. Slowly, I began to fall in love with the art of tea making, wanting to learn more about a beverage so simple yet so complicated.

One tea bush can be made into many different kinds of tea, depending on the season and the roasting. The more I learnt about tea, the more fascinating I found it – how it was one of the most important commodities traded around world and how it impacted history.

Tea drinking has been an art in the lives of many Buddhist monks. In Japan, tea masters train their whole lives to make the perfect cup of tea: Boiling water in different degrees gives different flavours and aromas; different teapots also impact the look and taste. Tea drinking can be used as a way to meditate, it can be served at gatherings or it may be used for its health benefits, such as aiding digestion and cleansing. Many Buddhist monks believe, “one who is drinking tea cannot be in a hurry”. Thus, when you slow down and focus on your tea, you get in touch with the present and attain a state of peacefulness.