Though we may have seen tea rituals depicted on TV and in movies, such as Britain’s afternoon tea, China’s well-known tea culture, and India’s passion for chai, here in the USA, tea is often more of an afterthought than a celebrated ritual in your daily routine.

If you’re someone who rushes off to work (or scurries to take a seat at the desk of your home office) with a travel mug filled with your beverage of choice, we’d like to invite you to create a slower, more intentional experience, one steeped with personal meaning. Creating a tea ritual offers a moment of stillness to recenter and fortify your ability to face whatever tasks lay ahead.

Choose Inspirational Tea Ware

Exquisite tea experiences start with the senses, both visual and tactile. There is a reason that cultures who ritualize their teatime serve beverages in aesthetically pleasing porcelain and glass vessels or handcrafted stoneware mugs. Not only do many declare that tea just tastes better than when poured into a paper cup or stainless-steel mug, but the image of “pinkies up” illustrates the royal feel of fine china in the hand. And, though French-crafted china prices exceed the average tea drinker’s budget, anyone can peruse the shelves of second-hand shops and discover the most glorious tea sets that will help personalize your new ritual.

Tea Ritual

A Brief History of Tea

Evidence discovered in 2016 from the mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han in Xi’an China indicates that emperors of the Han dynasty drank tea as far back as 2nd century BC! An analytical technique called mass spectrometry was used to detect that the tea came from the genus Camellia. Fast forward thousands of years to the early 20th century when the tea bag was invented. Though there is some discrepancy on who came up with the tea bag idea (an application was filed at the USPTO in 1903), it was around 1908 when a New York tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan accidentally made tea bags a thing! When sending out tea samples to customers in tiny silk bags, some thought they were supposed to steep the tea by dunking the entire bag into the teapot, rather than pouring the loose tea leaves in to steep. Commercial production of tea bags started in the 1920s in the USA, eventually evolving to the products we use today.

Try Loose-Leaf for a Change

Though the ease of tea bags cannot be denied, if you’re willing to spend a bit more time preparing your tea ritual there’s nothing like a porcelain pot filled with freshly brewed loose-leaf tea. Certain tea aficionados avoid using tea bags at all. And, some tea companies reserve their highest quality tea for loose-leaf selections.

Loose Leaf Tea

Though Buddha Teas does not discriminate between loose-leaf and bagged teas—all of our selections are procured and processed with the highest integrity and intention—the very nature of bagging tea leaves and steeping tea in water with a paper barrier can produce flavor that finishes with less clarity than if the contents are brewed directly in hot water.

Shop our Loose-Leaf Teas

Make Time for Pleasure

To fulfill the need for simplicity and stillness, we suggest making teatime a more intentional experience, a time to rest and recenter. Follow these steps to create your own ritual.

  1. Choose china or a mug that makes your heart sing.
  2. Create a tea sanctuary. Whether it’s in bed, at your table or outdoors, take a moment to make your space feel special. Light a candle, drape yourself in a cozy throw and arrange your tea ware with intention. Do whatever feels right.
  3. Sample a variety of loose-leaf teas, both caffeinated and herbal, so you’ll be enticed to make teatime a more thoughtful experience. Open the tea and breathe in deeply, then choose the variety you feel most drawn to in that moment.
  4. Heat the water to the correct temperature. Some varieties, like green teas require less heat to fully extract, and not burn, the precious tea leaves. To make the perfect cup, check out our brewing guide.
  5. Finally, sit down with a music selection that enhances the moment and that invites the calmest part of your spirit. Enjoy!

Life is Demanding, Give Yourself a Break

With many of us still spending more time at home than usual, now is the ideal moment to bring beauty, ritual, and new sensations into your life. If you have children schooling remotely, consider teaching them about the history of tea rituals and its many benefits. Or simply create some special family time by bringing out the good china and celebrating teatime together.