Staff Writer- Bao Vu

Tea

Legend has it that over 5,000 years ago, during the era of Shennong, the King of Agriculture and also the founding figure of traditional Chinese medicine, a single leaf accidentally fell into a pot of boiling water, giving rise to a discovery that would later reshape human culinary culture. This accidental discovery unveiled a beverage that would profoundly reshape human culinary culture. Originating as a precious herbal remedy for detoxification and maintaining mental alertness, it wasn’t until the Tang Dynasty (618-907) – the golden age of Chinese culture – that tea underwent its remarkable “metamorphosis.” It stepped beyond the confines of medicine, transforming into a “beautiful drink,” an art form, and gradually giving shape to its first philosophical principles.

From its cradle in China, the seed of tea culture began its journey to conquer the globe, following in the footsteps of merchants, monks, and caravans. It took root in Japan and Korea, then crossed oceans to reach Europe and the Americas, becoming a silent cultural emissary. This journey from a simple leaf to a global cultural icon stands as testament to the wondrous interplay between humanity, nature, and history.

The Essence of the Way of Tea: Five Principles for a Masterpiece

Throughout this journey, the act of drinking tea was elevated beyond mere thirst-quenching to become the Tea Ceremony—a path for spiritual cultivation and an art of living, crystallized through five timeless, universal principles. Naturally, these “rituals” vary across different cultures and countries, each with its own unique style and meaning. Ultimately, borrowing a Vietnamese saying about the Tea Ceremony, they can be summarized as: The First is Water, The Second is Tea, The Third is the Cup, The Fourth is the Teapot, The Fifth is Companions. This Vietnamese framework, while not a universal ancient doctrine, elegantly distills a core spirit of mindfulness cherished by tea cultures worldwide.

1. The First is Water – The Soul of Tea: The first principle honors purity. The ancients believed that a delicious cup of tea must originate from the most exquisite water—sometimes from a mountain spring source, other times from pure morning dew collected on a lotus petal. Water temperature is also an art: sometimes we need the intensity of a rolling boil to awaken fermented tea leaves, yet we also require the gentleness of hot water to cherish the delicate fragrance of green tea or jasmine tea.
2. The Second is Tea – The Marriage of Flavors: The second principle is the careful selection in tea leaves. Each tea leaf carries within it a story of its land, weather, and the caring hands of the cultivator. The tea brewer must truly be a “kindred spirit,” understanding the character of each tea type to handle it suitably, from washing and crushing the leaves to the steeping time, aiming to fully release the “essence” contained within.
3. The Third is the Cup – Philosophy in a Small Cup: A standard tea cup is typically not overly large, serving as a reminder that value lies not in quantity, but in quality and subtle perception.
4. The Forth is the Teapot– The Heart of the Ritual: The teapot is the soul of the tea ceremony. The acts of “waking” the pot with hot water, “measuring” the appropriate amount of tea, and especially the technique of “rinsing the tea” – discarding the first infusion to cleanse away dust and awaken the flavor, before using the second infusion for serving – are all solemn rituals. These transform tea brewing into a meditative artistic performance.
5. The fifth is Companions – The Connection of Kindred Spirits: The final and most fundamental principle is Companions—close, understanding friends. The Tea Ceremony does not exist in solitude. The tea’s aroma truly blossoms, its flavor truly becomes sweetly lingering, only when shared among harmonious hearts. The tea space becomes a microcosm of the universe, where souls commune, conversations of deep understanding flourish, and friendships are nurtured. This is the most profound humanistic value that the Tea Ceremony aspires towards.

Therefore, the core value that grants tea its enduring appeal is its power to connect: connecting the past with the present, connecting humanity with nature, and, above all, connecting kindred souls with one another. Each cup of tea is now more than just a beverage; it has become a miniature cultural symbol, a gentle reminder about refinement and slowness in the rhythm of modern life.

And this journey continues to spread even more powerfully as it transcended the borders of China to integrate into life across all continents. From the solemn and tranquil Japanese Tea Ceremony, to the elegant British Afternoon Tea style, and the convenience inherent in American tea bag culture—each country has vividly reflected its distinct spirit and lifestyle right within its hot cup of tea. The journey to explore this diverse and colorful world of tea will be the main topic of next week’s article. Stay tuned!