For the last few months I’ve been attending Tea Club meetings, hosted by Ming-wei Andy Tsai and Feng-chih Lisa Tsai.
I met them through the Talent Exchange, and was first invited to a Tea Club meeting to talk about the Ethical Co-op. I missed a few months after that, but have attended the last 3 meetings, usually held on the first Saturday of every month.
Meetings consist of an informal tea ceremony, and lots of tea drinking. Everyone finishes up on a minor high after about 28 cups (albeit small traditional Chinese tea cups) of tea. The tea is mostly supplied by Ming-wei and Feng-chih, often a fantastic high mountain tea from a mountain near Feng-chih’s birthplace. I’m starting to get a little better at tasting the subtle differences, today being able to tell the difference between a high mountain and a low mountain tea (this is probably the equivalent of a wine-drinker celebrating being able to tell Chardonnay from Merlot).
Tea has a very different feeling to something like coffee (or beer, or wine), and much better for one I think! Green tea has great health benefits, but the main reason I go is to socialise, and enjoy learning more about some fantastic-tasting tea, as well as the rituals around it.
If you’re interested in coming to a meeting, give me a shout and I’ll get you added to the mailing list.
I’m in Cape Town every two months. Please add me to the list so I can co-ordinate my next trip if possible.
Reminds me of Jet Li’s Fearless – the scene with him and the Japanese fighter respectfully enjoying their tea together. And how with little speaking they understand each other.