Due to the pandemic, our lives have undergone many changes, yet one thing that remains constant is the daily hustle and bustle. As concerns seem endless, health has increasingly become a topic of common concern.
With the rise of health-conscious consumption and continuous consumption upgrades, Tea is becoming more popular due to its natural and healthy attributes. Comprehensive health encompasses both physical and mental well-being, and traditional tea contributes to both aspects under the current pandemic situation.
1. Tea and Health Preservation – “Tea Is a Remedy for All Ills”
An increasing number of people are falling in love with Drinking Tea, as it is both a health-preserving and enjoyable activity.
The idea that tea can preserve health is supported by historical accounts of the medicinal benefits of tea. In fact, tea was commonly known as a medicinal herb in ancient times.
It is said that Shen Nong tasted hundreds of herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons in a single day, but he was able to detoxify himself with tea. This speaks to the remarkable detoxifying properties of tea.
The great Tang Dynasty physician Chen Cangqi wrote in his book Supplement to the Materia medica: “All other medicines are remedies for specific ailments, while tea is a remedy for all illnesses.”
Modern scientific analysis has identified over 500 beneficial nutrients and minerals in tea, including unique components such as polyphenols, pigments, amino acids, alkaloids, and saponins.
In general, tea can help relieve fatigue, clear the mind, quench thirst, promote urination, relieve diarrhea, cool and detoxify, suppress coughing, calm asthma, and aid weight loss.
2. Tea and Character Cultivation – Best Suited for Those of Virtuous Conduct and Frugality
Tea is rich in nutritional and medicinal value, and its practicality is widely recognized. It also serves as a medium for all the Beauty in life.
In his Treatise on Tea, Lu Yu mentioned: “The use of tea is essentially cold in flavor, and it is most suitable for those who practice virtue and frugality.”
He not only discussed various aspects of tea drinking, such as selecting tea, choosing water, using fire, and preparing utensils, but he also emphasized the importance of the moral character and integrity of the tea drinker.
Tea intertwines with daily life and spiritual culture, allowing one to cultivate their character and nourish their body and mind through tea drinking. One can gain insight into the reserved and serene nature of tea through each cup.
In Tea culture, tea represents a certain quality of spirit. When we say someone possesses the qualities of tea, we mean they are calm, composed, and resilient. We should strive to be like tea – avoiding extravagance, being frugal, and having high moral standards.
3. Tea and Life – Rising and Falling, Bitter and Sweet
A pot of tea, a person, tasting tea is about understanding oneself, and within the taste of tea lies the full spectrum of life's flavors.
Tea assumes two postures: sinking and floating. Similarly, life has two states: rising and falling. Amidst these ups and downs, one should go with the flow, being able to hold on and let go.
Each type of tea has its own distinct flavor, which can be bitter, sweet, or subtle, much like different stages of life. Depending on one's mindset and state, the experience can vary greatly. Life is like tea; in youth, the greenness and uncertainty resemble new tea floating in water;
during middle age, after experiencing trials and tribulations, one becomes stable and reserved, like tea that reveals its character as it sinks and rises; in old age, one sheds the superficial, like tea that has been steeped for a long time, with a mild flavor yet lingering aroma.
Falling in love with tea is not something that happens overnight, but rather a gradual process that is subtle and imperceptible. Rather than saying one loves drinking tea, it might be more accurate to say one understands the flavors of life.
“If people truly understood the way of tea, they would not envy immortals but choose to be tea drinkers.”
To the Chinese, tea is a rich carrier, filled with gustatory belonging, spiritual beliefs, and emotional attachments.
Drinking tea is not just a dietary habit, but also an attitude towards enjoying life no matter where one is. During the pandemic, the warmth of human existence can be comforted by a simple cup of tea.
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