My dance with loose leaf tea

01/06/2010

My dance with loose leaf tea

I have been flirting with the idea of adding more tea to my life for a long time. I wanted the proven health benefits. And I needed to find an alternative to 5 cups of coffee per day and the jitters and the stomach issues that come with too much java. But I didn’t want the soggy bags. Laying everywhere. On the saucer, on my counter, in the sink. And I was uninspired by the taste. Drinking tea felt like a necessary, but not exactly pleasant, part of my day.

Little did I know that there was an entire world lying outside of those bags—or should I say inside them? I got turned on to and fired up about the world of loose leaf tea. No bags. Beautiful, dancing leaves. Rich, flavors…both bold and subtle that tease your tongue and play with your mind. A ritual to be reckoned with.

And I never thought I’d say this, but tea has become my most anticipated time of the day.

Here’s how it happened…

I had a business meeting with Rishi Tea. Our goal was to discuss a partnership between their company and our show. I was there because Rishi met every criteria I have for potential sponsors. I had gone through my checklist twice:

Are they organic? Check. (USDA certified.) Are they passionate about producing an excellent product? Check. (Eleven 1st place awards at the 2009 World Tea Championship. And the Founder spends more time in the fields than the office. Because he loves it.) Does it benefit my audience to know about them? Check. (Jammed with antioxidants.) Are they enhancing our lives and health and planet? Check, check, check. (Rishi has a strong focus on sustainable production and Fair Trade—protecting workers and the earth where the tea originates.)

We approached Rishi Tea because of all of the above. But something unexpected happened during that meeting. They made me a cup of tea. Loose leaf tea. During the meeting. Right in front of me. And I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

It was more than the cup of tea itself. It was the ritual that struck me. In the midst of this ‘business’ meeting, watching the action of the tea being prepared—the smelling (like you’d smell a bottle of wine), the steeping (the gorgeous leaves swirling in a glass pot), the serving, and the drinking—I realized something: I needed this. This mental time out...to stop the racing of my day and of my mind. I felt relaxed and clear in a way that I haven’t felt mid-afternoon of a work day. Ever.

And so…

Steeping a pot of tea has become my twice a day ritual. Once in the afternoon, which brings back a sense of calm (or should I say sanity?), focus, and creativity to my work day. And then at night as Steve and I explore (and sometimes arm wrestle over) new flavors—although both of us can enthusiastically settle on the Cinnamon Plum. (For the record Steve, my husband, is a football-loving, tool belt-wearing dude—not exactly someone who conjures up images of teatime.)

Needless to say we became partners with Rishi Tea. And I’m going on a tea journey. Learning more about the health benefits, the art of the production, the places of origin, and organic and Fair Trade methods. I’ll be sharing what I learn and hope that you can join me by reading, listening, watching, commenting… and enjoying the bliss of a daily cup of tea.

Here’s what I can recommend to start. A canister of Cinnamon Plum. A glass pot with a tea light warmer. (I like glass because I like to see the tea dance). And find some cups that speak your language. You’re good to go.

Let the journey begin with this gorgeous video...

Some fun facts about Rishi:

The company donates 25 percent of profits from Cinnamon Plum to the Clean Water Fund. One fine example of their dedication to corporate responsibility.