SPILLING THE TEA 🍵
by Wendy Yang Clark
After the light creeps in through the curtains, and my four-year-old pounces on me for morning snuggles, we stumble downstairs, I occupy her with Peppa Pig on the tv, and I partake in a quiet little three-minute ritual all to myself.
Rituals are more than just habits; they’re intentional and mindful practices imbued with meaning and purpose, bringing a sense of peace and connection to the present moment. Routines, on the other hand, are actions we perform dutifully, typically without much thought or reflection. Making a cup of coffee or tea in the morning is a relatively normal habit, but if you break it down, pay attention and care to each step in the process, and make it your own, you can transform that habit into a meaningful ritual used to set your day in motion.
These small, sacred moments ground us, center us, and set the tone for our day. They bring us peace and prepare us for whatever craziness lies ahead. My favorite ritual is making my morning cup of matcha tea. Before I had kids, I had a very beautiful, very involved, and very time-consuming morning routine that included not only tea, but gua-sha, journaling, musical chimes, staring quietly out the window, and a yoga practice. Now all of that’s gone out said window and I can get away with about three undisturbed minutes for my matcha latte, but those three minutes do the trick. Every step in the process is a mini meditation.
In a world that feels like it’s moving a mile a minute (walk dog! pay bills! respond to emails! answer texts! remember birthdays! work! kids! dinner! repeat!), these little acts of self-care give us a sense of stability and calm. They remind us to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the beauty in the mundane. My morning matcha ritual is my time to pause, reflect, and prepare for the day with a clear and focused mind.
Zen Buddhists believe in honoring the beauty in the mundane as a way to cultivate mindfulness and presence, emphasizing finding joy and enlightenment in everyday activities. Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, beautifully captures this idea:
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
This highlights the significance of being present and appreciating the simple act of drinking tea. It serves as a reminder that even completely ordinary moments can be infused with mindfulness and reverence, transforming them into profound experiences.
The art of making matcha is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony, known as chanoyu or ‘the way of tea’. This ceremonial preparation of matcha tea embodies principles of harmony (wa), respect (kei), purity (sei), and tranquility (jaku). Each movement in the tea ceremony is deliberate. The tea ceremony is a ritual that fosters a deep connection between the host and guests, emphasizing the beauty of simplicity and the transient nature of life. By embracing the spirit of chanoyu, we are reminded to bring mindfulness, respect, and tranquility into our daily lives.
Making my morning matcha latte is a ritual that wakes me up and engages all my senses. Here’s how I do it, step by step:
1. I try really, really hard not to look at my phone/computer/ipad in the morning until after I’ve had my tea. Sometimes I succumb to texts, but I almost always regret it when I do. This means I’m entering my tea making ritual without being weighed down by the needs and questions of others, reading depressing news of the day, or cluttering my mind with cat memes. Cat memes can wait a few minutes.
2. Turn on the hot water in my tea kettle. I love the shape of my white kettle, with its wide bottom and slender neck. I bought it seven years ago and it was a splurge, but I still enjoy it every day.
3. Pull out the matcha tin and admire the vibrant green of the powder. The color alone is a promise of the vitality it will bring to my day. With a little bamboo scoop called a chashaku, and a fine metal sifter, I gently sift a scoop of matcha powder into a small bowl (chawan). This step is crucial as it breaks up any clumps and ensures a smooth, velvety texture. I also really love my pretty hand-thrown and glazed matcha bowl. Short and squat, the bowl stands out from the mass of random coffee mugs we’ve accumulated over the years - I only have one matcha bowl, and am very careful with her.
4. By the time the matcha is sifted, the water in the kettle is ready. Pour a small amount of hot water into the bowl, and using a bamboo whisk (chasen) I whisk the matcha in a zigzag motion. This part of the ritual is my favorite. The motion feels rhythmic and soothing, and I watch as the matcha transforms into a bubbly green froth, embodying the energy I hope to infuse into my day. Then I add more hot water, filling the bowl about three quarters full.
5. My secret ingreedient is a touch of lavender syrup - the sweetness balances the earthiness of the matcha.
6. I top off the bowl with shaken oatmilk, watching as the bright green melds with the creamy white, creating a lovely marbled effect. The final stir unites them into a luscious, pale green latte, inviting and fragrant. For whatever reason, I fill the bowl to its very brim, dangerously close to overflowing.
7. I take a moment to inhale its delicate aroma. As I take my first sip, careful not to spill, I feel a sense of gratitude and peace. The taste is a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and earthy, a testament to the care and intention infused into each step of its creation. By this time, my child begins shouting requests for Cheerios and yogurt.
This morning ritual is more than just making a drink; it’s an act of mindfulness that sets a positive tone for the day. It reminds me to try and approach my tasks with the same care and intention. Each sip is a reminder to stay present, to embrace each moment with gratitude, and to carry the calm and clarity of this ritual into everything I do.
At The Pearl, we believe in the power of rituals to transform our lives. Whether it’s through yoga, meditation, or the simple act of making a cup of tea, these practices ground us and help us navigate the complexities of life. I encourage you to create your own rituals, cherish them, and to let them guide you toward a more mindful and intentional way of living. Rather than knocking back the day-old dregs from the bottom of yesterday’s pot while doomscrolling, can you turn the preparation of your morning coffee into a meditative practice to greet your day? Simple rituals like these can become your anchor, reminding you that even in the busiest of times, there is always space for peace and presence. Even if it’s just three minutes 🍵