Tea Ceremonies

When I work, I usually drink a lot of coffee. But in order to relax, I need tea. There are deep philosophies behind making and drinking tea , and the difference between coffee drinkers (active, extrovert) and tea drinkers (meditative, introvert, like traditions). So my way of  consuming beverages is logical - and of course, my tea is not made by throwing a tea bag into some hot water. I like loose tea and the ceremony of brewing it.

In Hong Kong I visited the Museum of Tea Ware (Flagstaff House ) which shows beautful Chinese tea cups and pots, but also the different ways of making and celebrating tea. A bit of time is always needed. When I was at the coast of the German North Sea last autumn (a landscape called "Ostfriesland"), I learned  that there is a connection between this area of Germany and China.

First of all the connection of trade: we visited a museum, a captain's house, which had a whole room dedicated to the souvenirs from his trips to China in the 19th century. But there is more: people in Ostfriesland love tea (this is the only area in Germany where people drink more tea than coffee) and the tea ceremony is an important part of their social life.

The typical tea they drink here is a mix of Assam teas that has a dark colour and strong taste, which goes very well with cold, windy and rainy days at the seaside (as I could experience myself). After the tea is prepared carefully, you pour it into a small cup with some lumps of special sugar at the bottom that does not dissolve easily. Finally you add a "cloud" of cream, carefully, so that it does not dissolve at once, either.

Now you have about three sips: the first has the bitter taste of the tea, with the second one you taste the cream and the third one gets you to the sweetness of the sugar. If you are invited to a "Teetied" (tea time) in Ostfriesland, you must drink at least three cups in order not to appear impolite.

Do you like tea or coffee or both ? Whatever - may you have time to sit down and enjoy it !

Adding a cloud of cream

Harbour of the little town of Carolinensiel