What's the Tea: The Ritual of Preparing and Drinking Tea to Relax
A Tea Ritual
The ritual of making tea is a big part of Asian culture, particularly in Japan and China. The Japanese have perfected their tea preparation, serving, and drinking into an art and performance in a Traditional tea ceremony known as chanoyu (meaning hot water for tea) or sado (meaning of the way of tea).
The ceremony, rooted in the principle of Zen Buddhism, is used to welcome guests; it takes place in a simple tea room (cha-shitsu), which may be a room in the house or built separately from the main house. Plus, it is intended to uphold four qualities, including harmony (和, wa), respect (敬, kei), purity (清, sei), and tranquility (寂, jaku).
Aside from the Asians, the British don’t joke with their cuppa. And while tea making and drinking may feel like a White thing, it would interest you to know that the Africans have a tea culture of their own. The people in Senegal, Ghana, and the Gambia have a 3-hour tea ceremony known as Ataya, and the Moroccans serve their signature mint tea in the Maghreb tea ceremony.
Tea is a universal drink; it is said to be the most widely consumed and cheapest drink after water. Not only is it flavorful and relaxing, but it offers a lot of health benefits. Plus, it supports communion with self and others. However, the actual tea preparation process has been found to be just as calming and beneficial for the body and mind as drinking it.
Create Your Relaxing Tea Ritual
It may seem like a hassle to fix yourself a cup of tea until you get into the state of mind and absorb yourself in every part of the uplifting process. A tea ritual can serve you in many positive ways, one of which is taking your focus away from your worries, impending tasks, and anxieties. Your mind will be soothed as you focus on preparing the tea, and your body will benefit from its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
Let’s go over some tips and advice for creating a relaxing tea ritual.
Get Comfortable
You’ll want to change into comfortable clothes if you are in work clothes or take a shower if you are sweaty and feeling tired. As you prepare your body, condition your mind by visualizing that the anxious thoughts—which have followed you until the present moment—are being lifted or washed away from you.
The next thing you want to do is to turn off or put away your mobile devices to prevent distractions.
Finally, let your hair loose and settle into a comfortable spot in your home that is noise and clutter-free and gets enough sunlight.
Set the Right Mood
Instrumental music is one of the best music for setting a calming mood. Set a tune — Think jazz and classical music. You can find a peaceful music playlist on YouTube Music or Spotify.
Light some aromatherapy candles or switch on dim lights if it is dark outside. You can also burn incense to purify the space and complement your tea ritual. You should light an incense stick or candle scented with lavender, chamomile, neroli, jasmine, or bergamot if the goal of your tea ritual is to promote deep relaxation and sleep.
Temperature is another essential component of setting the right mood. You’ll want to keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter.
It is crucial for you to feel harmonized with your environment during your tea ritual. You should be able to notice and appreciate the colors, smells, and sounds surrounding you.
Set the Tea Scene
The first thing you want to do is put water in the kettle to boil. Next, tidy the space where you wish to serve the tea.
Pick out your teaware, utensils, and tea tools intentionally. Select a mug or cup based on the inscriptions, art, or colors that best suit your mood. Also, choose a herbal tea blend that is in harmony with the theme of your tea ritual and your preferred sweetener. Set everything you’d need to make tea on the table.
When you step back and look at what you’ve set up, you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction and calmly look forward to hearing the kettle whistle or the sound of vapor bubbles collapsing into each other.
Brew the Best Cup of Tea
Don’t stress over making the perfect cup of tea. By whose standards should your tea be graded as the best? YOURS!
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You have just one assignment, and it is to brew thoughtfully.
Measure some tea into your cup or place in a tea bag and slowly pour the hot water over it. As you do so, take deep breaths and pay attention to the sound of the water and the aroma of the brewing tea. Feel the tension in your body and mind dissipate as you inhale the heat from the tea.
While the tea is steeping, watch as the dry tea leaves soak in water and unfurl as though they are blooming and finally float freely in the water. Notice how the tea changes color.
Note: Read the instructions on the product package or manufacturer’s website to know how long to steep your tea to extract its best flavor. Letting tea for too long may result in an intensely bitter tea.
Feel the warmth spread throughout your body as your hands hug the mug. Raise it to your lips and sip your tea slowly.
Try not to agonize over the events that occurred during the day, yesterday, or a week ago. Instead, gently focus your mind on the present moment. Think about how you want to take advantage of the time you have left in the day or night.
Do you want to check in with a friend, write in your journal, watch your favorite TV show, brainstorm on a work or personal project, go to bed, or do nothing?
Photo Credit: Getty Images
When Is the Best Time to Have Your Tea Ritual?
There are no fixed rules to creating a tea ritual. Everything, including the location, music, lighting, tea blend, and timing, should depend on YOU. Tea rituals, like self-care rituals, should be created around one’s character and the things their body, mind, and soul need.
So, ask yourself what your physical, spiritual, or mental needs are at the present moment.
Are you in need of deep relaxation, restful sleep, or healing?
Do you want to improve your alertness, boost your mood, quiet your worrisome thoughts, or improve your energy flow?
Do you want to discover or reinvent yourself by taking advantage of the opportunity to slow down, reflect, feel, and visualize?
If you get overwhelmed by anxiety the moment you open your eyes, doing a simple morning tea ritual might be the best for you. It will put you in the right frame of mind to practice gratitude, visualize and manifest, and plan your day for maximum productivity.
It's unusual to start a tea ritual in the afternoon, but it might be beneficial if you work from home and want to take a 10-minute break to reduce your stress level, recharge your energy level, and boost your productivity.
A nighttime tea ritual with teas for reducing stress and anxiety or fighting insomnia like chamomile, passionflower, skullcap, valerian root, etc., is advised if you want to unwind and relax after a long and stressful day.
Also, when choosing the time for your tea ritual, pick a time when you can commit all your senses to the practice. Remember that you want to be able to slow down, align your mind, body, and spirit, connect with your surroundings, and appreciate everything that makes your life feel precious in the present moment.
Whether you start your tea ritual in the morning, during the day, or at night, be sure to choose a quality tea that complements your intentions.
9 Best Teas for Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep
Several studies have shown that the following teas can help reduce stress, induce deep relaxation, elevate mood, and improve sleep quality.
Chamomile
Lemon balm
Hawthorne
Green tea
Lavender
Passionflower
Peppermint
Rose
Mint
Cinnamon
The Ritual of Preparing and Drinking Tea to Relax: Final Words
Starting a tea-drinking routine and turning it into a ritual can launch you to a new level where you begin to exercise your power to pause, appreciate your life, and satisfy your present needs.
Your tea ritual can last as short as 5-minutes, but you shouldn’t place a time restraint on yourself, or else you won’t be able to enjoy and take full advantage of the warm, soothing feeling it gives.
You can speak words of affirmation while setting up your space, write in your journal while sipping on your tea, or ask your partner to share a cup of tea. Nothing has to be set in stone when it comes to your ritual; you only have to do YOU and be yourself in your most relaxed and unbothered self.