Tea

Every morning I drink a pot of tea. The first thing I do when I enter the kitchen is turn my silver kettle on to boil. I crave my tea at that time of the day, not because it wakes me up (I rarely have difficulty with mornings), but because there is a certain something about the combination of pre-dawn and that crisp, steaming beverage... that I find to be blissfully cleansing and invigorating. Apparently I'm not alone in my love of tea; it's the second most-consumed beverage in the world after water. I drink one whole pot myself, and sometimes I have more late-morning. I know people who prefer their tea lukewarm... but I like mine very hot. I can taste it better this way, and my body feels most calmed and satisfied.

This traditional tetsubin cast iron Japanese teapot was a wedding gift from our friend Mona. I use it every day.

Camellia Sinensis

Mythic/historical figure Shennong

The tea plant, camellia sinensis, probably originated in the area that now includes northern Burma and southwest China (Yunnan and Sichuan provinces), although the precise location is difficult to determine, as cultivation has spread far and wide over the past several thousand years. A popular Chinese legend attributes the invention of tea as a beverage to emperor Shennong ("Divine Farmer") in 2737 BC. However, tea was used medicinally much earlier on. In fact, no one really knows when or how humans began using the plant. To me, that makes tea both practical and mystical--- a combination of attributes I find most attractive (not just in tea). From China it spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. People in the Himalayan region of India used tea in medicine for an unknown period of time, but it did not become a common beverage until the British introduced it as such. The Western world discovered tea when Portuguese priests and merchants visited China during the 16th century. Tea-drinking spread to Britain around 1660, but did not become commonplace until the mid 1700s. A thriving black market trade organized around tea eventually led to the Boston Tea Party, and only ceased when the British stopped taxing it (by 1785). Interestingly, Americans actually drank more tea than the English did before Boston's most famous party.  

The five most popular varieties of tea.

There are many varieties of tea, but five can be identified as the "main" or most widely consumed. They are, as shown above: white, green, oolong, black, and pu erh. While they all come from the camellia sinensis plant, each type constitutes a radically different sipping experience. I was quite amazed to discover (in my early days of tea-geekhood) that every variation is a result of growing conditions, climate, harvest time, plant part, and processing. Tea production truly is an art, and the more I read about it, the more it astonishes me. I'm fast becoming a snob, although I do have a long way to go before I really qualify!

A great visual of tea data.

My personal favorites are green and oolong, with white a close third, and pu erh of great interest because making it involves fermentation (I <3 fermentation).  I wish I could give you an exhaustive list of all the exotic kinds within each category that I've tried... but to speak the truth, it's expensive, and I have not been able to indulge all my tea urges as yet. Some of the best I've tasted so far include gyokuro (a vibrant green from Japan), jade oolong (it smells like lilacs!), and silver needle (an airy white). I also love the traditional jasmine green, gunpowder green, and sencha. One I've been dying to try is Ti Kuan Yin, an oolong named after one of my favorite Buddhist deities (she is called Avelokiteshvara in Sanskrit).  I'm also lusting after shincha, pouchong, and the beautiful "blooming teas" made of tea leaves carefully sewn together that blossom when steeped in hot water. I don't mean to neglect the black teas here--- it's just that they aren't my particular favorites. I do, however, depend on Irish Breakfast to feed my kombucha culture! Black is definitely her favorite.

Aside from indulging my appreciation of fine craft and intricate gustatory pleasure, tea also happens to be extremely healthy. It's hard to deny several thousand years' worth of ancestral wisdom on this front. Tea feels so good to my body that quoting "evidence" seems a little absurd, but as I mentioned before, my personality consists of equal parts hokey-pokey intuition/magic and scientific rationality, so I can't not put in a few words about studies "proving" tea's health benefits. Time magazine has a page on tea that seems to check out, and here are a few juicy tidbits via Harvard Medical School's website:

• Tea drinking appears to lower the risk for heart disease and stroke
• Natural compounds called polyphenols in green tea might protect against several cancers, including those of the prostate, GI tract, lungs, breast, and skin
• Caffeine and antioxidants called catechins found in green, oolong, and white teas may increase metabolism and promote weight loss
• Tea polyphenols are thought to strengthen bones and protect against fractures
• People who drink tea could see improvements in mood, concentration, and performance.

The infographic at right is great; just click to enlarge if you can't read it at current size. It has some great statistics about all things tea. 

I have a wealth of nostalgic memories based on tea-drinking ritual. When I first met Myer in Autumn 2004 at Lawrence University, we bonded over our love of walking in the season's invigorating chill and bright leaf-colors with our travel mugs of hot tea. We still enjoy this practice, and every time we do, we are filled with a sense of romance because it was something we did in the beginning. Mushy, I know. (Sorry not sorry!) 

Us back then.

That's about all I have to say on the subject of tea, for now. Let me know what some of your favorites are... 

Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Ayurvedic recipes for Dosha-balancing tea

Dhanvantari, physician of the gods

My Kali Shrine

Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I've been fascinated with everything India (culture, history, religion, food, clothing, and music) for quite some time. At any given moment, I can be found wearing a bindi, listening to a sitar, ingesting turmeric, or popping off a couple down-dogs. I even have a small Kali altar built around a figurine my little sister Cirrus brought back for me from India. Unsurprisingly, Ayurveda, the ancient system of traditional Hindu medicine, has taken its turn as the focal point of an "Arhia geeky obsesssion." To be honest, I am a little hesitant to write anything about Ayurveda because it is impossible to simplify and easy to misinterpret. I myself have only a vague whiff of understanding when it comes to the subject. After all, Ayurveda arose thousands of years ago and half a world away. Sources of education on the topic seem to fall into two categories: vapid, ridiculous online drivel, and unimaginably dense tomes that beginners like me just can't access. Anyhow, keep in mind the above disclaimer as you read this post!

In the context of Ayurveda, the Sanskrit prakriti means a person's unique physical and psychological nature. Dosha can be translated roughly as "constitution" or "biological type." Doshas make up the physical aspect of one's prakriti. There are three doshas, or biological energies: vata, pitta, and kapha, which relate to the five elements as defined by Ayurvedic philosophy (see chart at right). Vata is made up of ether and air, pitta of fire and water, and kapha of water and earth. Every person displays characteristics of vata, pitta, and kapha, but usually one or two doshas are dominant above the others within an individual's prakriti. Rarely are the doshas distributed evenly in a single human being, but it does happen. To ascertain an accurate evaluation of your personal doshic balance, you should seek out a professional Ayurvedic practitioner. However, there are many "online quizes" and such that one can partake in *just for the fun of it*.... and it is sort of fun. Simply keep in mind the mega-hokey factor. The dosha quiz I took was in Deepak Chopra's Perfect Health. Unfortunately, the book was heartily new-agey and not authentic in terms of traditional Indian medicine... but it seemed like an acceptable place to begin. Anyhow, according to Chopra's book, I am very vata with a decent dose of kapha and only a pinch of pitta.

During my research on Ayurveda, I came across recipes for herbal teas intended to balance the respective doshas. Tea being another of my geeky obsessions (one that will doubtless star in a post all its own here one of these days), I took note. I've seen many variations on each recipe, with differing combinations and proportions of herbs, so there is no "one way" of brewing these teas. The recipes here are simpler than many, involving only four ingredients per mixture, and include my personal favorite herbs/spices from among the vast array. Feel free to do your own research and experiment with different amounts to suit your own needs and tastes. After all, that is the fun part! 

                 Vata Balancing Tea              Pitta Balancing Tea                Kapha Balancing Tea                       

 

In case you can't tell from the pictures, I'll also list the ingredients in words. Vata: ginger, licorice, cinnamon, cardamom. Pitta: peppermint, chamomile, fennel, rose. Kapha: ginger, pepper, saffron, cloves. Vata is the only one I've actually made, since I often tend toward an overabundance of that dosha. I intend to try the others, however, because they all look AMAZING. When I make a batch of tea, I use a large handful of each ingredient per two quarts of water. I simmer everything together for about an hour at very low heat, then pour into jars and store in the fridge to be enjoyed all week. I like to add a shot of apple cider vinegar to my cup before I drink it, and I'm sure raw honey would also be a lovely addition. 

Each tea balances the dosha of its name. Therefore, vata tea is grounding and stabilizing, pitta tea is cooling and calming, and kapha tea is energizing and uplifting. So for example, if you feel a cold coming on, vata tea would be a good choice, since a cold indicates an excess of vata. If you have digestion issues, either vata or kapha could help. If you are frustrated or worked-up, pitta might be of use. 

Enjoy!

Sapta Chakra, from a Yoga manuscipt in Braj Bhasa lanaguage, 1899.