Tea Ceremony Talk and Demonstration at CHALICE WELL TRUST in Glastonbury
I am so honoured and humbled to be invited to be part of the amazing annual festival in Glastonbury to give a talk on Tea Ceremony and give a demonstration of the Tea Ceremony too.
This festival is organised by Chalice Well Trust. “Chalice Well is among the best known and most loved holy wells in Britain. Many legends are attributed to its chalybeate waters, which flow ceaselessly at a steady rate and temperature that never varies. Not least among these is that they represent the blood of Christ miraculously springing forth from the ground when Joseph of Arimathea buried or washed the cup used at the Last Supper. For others the waters are acknowledged as the essence of life, the gift from Mother Earth to sustain its living forms and so a continuous spring like Chalice Well is a direct expression of an unbounded life force.”
This year’s Festival is called “Many Paths, One Source” and is centred around Buddhism - and the numerous traditions that are part of it - Zen, Theravada, Vajrayana etc.
And of course, Tea Ceremony was always present in early buddhist traditions - after all Wu De, a man I call my tea teacher and founder of the Global Tea Hut community, wrote a book with the name “Tea and Zen One Flavour” - showing just that. That Tea and Zen are one and the same.
Tea has been a silent transmitter of wisdom and truth, from master to students, something that couldn’t be transmitted in a linguistic manner.
This and many other things we will explore in this Tea Ceremony talk and Demonstration on 9 June 2019.
Here is a link to the programme of events there - check them out, it’s amazing! https://chalicewellmanypathsonesourcefestival.org/event/tea-ceremony-talk-and-demonstration/
Sun Moon Lake Red Tea and Uluntu Flowers
Red living tea from Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan (which I got from Living Tea UK) is the perfect elevating start of the day! And with these beautiful flowers from @uluntubermondsey , which I get every time I do a tea meditation there this really is connecting me to myself and to nature... Both are wild. Wild Tea and wild flowers. Be wild. Be nature. Be you. Every Tuesday - Tea Meditations in my home at 8pm in London. Every Thursday - Tea Ceremony and Meditation at 1pm Uluntu Bermondsey (63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL)
Today I wanted to tell you a little bit more about Uluntu Space, where Thursday's Tea Meditations take place. Everyone always comments that it is amazing to have a Tea Ceremony, a Tea meditation not to so many beautiful and unusual flowers, because in this way it is much easier to connect to yourself and nature. Each time I use flowers from the shop for our Chaxi - the setting of the tea table. It works almost like a magic, transforming the whole energy of the tea space.
And every time after the Tea Meditation the guys tell me: choose some flowers to take home with you! And I stand there each time, not being able to choose from this variety, from these works of art, so simple and so complicated at the same time. I am always late to pick up my son from school as I it simply takes me a long time to choose! But as a result these flowers are in my home for the whole week before the next meditation! :)
Uluntu is translated as Community in one of the South African languages, and this is how this space feels! You come in, and you feel like you came to a friend's house, the guys meet you and greet you, and you will be able to have some tea there soon (from March) - a good quality tea, that gives you a state of joy, happiness and inspiration. This is going to be a collaboration of T-Lovers tea and Uluntu Bermondsey. So please follow us for more news on this!
Every Thursday there are Thursday Social events with music (Stan is also a DJ with the record collection of 5,000 vinyls in the basement), wine and socialising. Last night I went there to check it out at around 10pm for 15 minutes, there was no party, but people were sitting around the table sipping wine, talking, coming and leaving, and it did really feel like a living room of your best friends. I came for 15 minutes and barely left after 2.5 hours! And I was drinking water, not wine! :)))
Before I left Den gave me an Eucaliptus branch to take home. So my house looks as beautiful as ever with the magic touch of Uluntu Flowers. I am in LOVE. And this place is going to be perfect for tea. Amazing, living, quality tea. The opening os a tea house is planned for the 6 March. It's Sunday, and I hope I will see many of you who have been to my Tea Tours and Meditations!!!!
Uluntu Bermondsey is at 63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL.
London Tea Events in August ’15
August is here, the final month of this summer, and I really hope your love for tea will make you explore all the tea events happening now. I am away for almost all August, so there will be no tea tours and walks for most of it, but there are lots of other ones to choose from! 1. Saturday, 1 August, at 14.30 – Tea Tasting Tour in Shoreditch, £20
We will visit four unique places and taste amazing teas, and I will talk you through each tea that we will have, and we will have a cake in the last place too. It is an amazing way to discover a different side of Shoreditch, the most trendy area of London! All teas and a piece of home baked cake in the last place are included in the price.
2. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
3. Sunday, 2 August, at 16.00 in SE London (It will probably take place in a cosy green yard close to London Bridge station) - Tea Meditation with me, £donation, send me an e-mail to reserve your space at withTlovers@gmail.com
Tea meditation is a Mindfulness meditation. It is performed in noble silence with me gently and quietly guiding through it in the beginning. There will be an opportunity to talk before and after meditation, and small snacks will be provided afterwards. We rarely have time to just be with whatever is there, in the present moment. To just sit down, and be totally in the process of drinking tea. And when we do that, magic happens.
4. Tuesday, 4 August, at 19.00 in SE London - Evening Tea Meditation with me, £10
Tea meditation is a Mindfulness meditation. It is performed in noble silence with me gently and quietly guiding through it in the beginning. There will be an opportunity to talk before and after meditation, and small snacks will be provided afterwards. We rarely have time to just be with whatever is there, in the present moment. To just sit down, and be totally in the process of drinking tea. And when we do that, magic happens.
5. Wednesday, 5 August, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18
My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!
6. Wednesday, 5 August, at 19.00 in Docklands – Tea Brewing Masterclass with Tea Studio, £20
Learn (and taste) why its so important to brew tea correctly and the key points to doing this. During the masterclass you’ll taste both badly (to show the difference) and expertly brewed teas as well as learning traditional and modern methods for brewing specialist teas. All of course with plenty of discussion and advice so you can make your tea brewing experience better every time.
7. Friday, 7 August , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.
I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/
8. Saturday, 8 August, at 14.00 in Docklands – Tea and Street Art Tour with Tea Studio, £24
Contemplate Art & Tea. Meet Claire, Street Art Expert, at East India DLR station and progress to Trinity Buoy Wharf where she will talk you through such pieces as the Time & Tide Bell, The Ascenda 1977 and Longplayer as well as several other street artists. Plus TEA, of course!
9. 13-16 August, 10-7pm in Clerkenwell - Namasia Tea Ceremony at the Art Exhibition, £8
Feature of Event:
-University of the Arts of London is well known of their creativity in Art filed. -This exhibition will cooperate with Taiwanese tea ceremony hosted by Namasia Tea House -12 Artists to exhibit their visions of fine arts.
10. Thursday, 13 August, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in South Kensington. £25
I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended!
I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!
11. Sunday, 16 August, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English
I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks really good! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.
12. Tuesday, 18 August, at 17.00 in Mayfair - Gingerbread and Tea - Food and Drink Themed History of Mayfair, £10
Mayfair has always been the place to visit for afternoon tea. Hear how this tradition came about together with the surprising histories of some of the world's most famous hotels. You will also hear about the Georgians and their passion for ice cream, the binge eating composer and the famous gingerbread seller Tiddy Doll. It’s not all about history though as Joanna will show you some of the hidden cafes and shops of the area including where to have a cream tea for under £9, a rooftop café in a designer clothes shop and one of the best wine shops in London. This walk is approximately 2 hours in length and will finish close to Green Park tube. No food or drink stops or tastings are included in this walk.
13. Tuesday, 18 August, at 19.00 in Docklands - Baking with Tea with Tea Studio, £24
Tea is more than just a drink. Did you know you can bake with it as well? Well how does Matcha marshmallows in white chocolate or smokey Lapsang Souchong Caramel on icecream sound? All of this you will learn at this workshop!
14. Thursday, 20 August, at 19.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20
Over the two hours, they will cover the diversity of the 6 tea families, tasting exemplar teas within each category. Kyle will explain how each of the teas are made and what sets each tea family apart. Lots of useful information!
15. Sunday, 23 August, at 2-4pm in Brixton - Summer Chinese Tea & Qi Ceremony with Al Falfa, £15
In an informal and relaxed setting we will share some rare loose-leaf white, green and oolong teas and learn the 'gong-fu' approach to making and drinking tea. There will be space for discussion and opportunity to learn all you want about the many benefits and pleasures of fine tea. Additionally, we will practice qigong techniques to engage and awaken the senses. These techniques use a mixture of self-massage, breath-work and mindfulness and are practiced sitting down. On top of their many health benefits, these exercises aim to bring heightened clarity to our senses, which greatly enhances the experience of drinking tea.
London Tea Events in July ’15
Another month is coming, the most summery month of the year, and another post on Tea Events in London is here! There are loads to choose from (20 tea related events so far in July), and this list will updates as and when the new events are created! Tea tours and walks, tea meditations and ceremonies, tea brewing masterclasses and many many more! 1. Wednesday, 1 July, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18
My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!
2. Wednesday, 1 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20
Over the two hours, they will cover the diversity of the 6 tea families, tasting exemplar teas within each category. Kyle will explain how each of the teas are made and what sets each tea family apart. Lots of useful information!
3. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
4. Saturday, 4 July, at 16.00 in Warren Street - Coffee, Tea and Kisses with Kyle, FREE
Join Kyle from Tea Studio in a exploration of speciality teas. Learn about origins of teas and how they are made. We will explore a different tea every 15-20 minutes, pop in any time. The event takes place at London's only relationships cafe and an inclusive space to build all kinds of relationships, and to explore all aspects of them
6. Tuesday, 7 July at 17.30 in Buddha Bar - Japanese Tea Ceremony: Three-Course Meal & Two Cocktails, £45
Join Buddha Bar team as they explore the 15th century Samurai roots of the Japanese Tea Ceremony for the first time EVER in London. See how to wear a Kimono. Take in exclusive Japanese Tea Calligraphy. Find out why Green Tea is the new coffee. Sample Matcha, Sencha, Gyokuro amongst many more types of Tea. Indulge, as they spoil you with the exclusive new Buddha Special Menu
6. Fridays, 10 & 24 June and , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.
I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/
9. Sunday, 12 July, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £20 – NEARLY SOLD OUT!
Discover tea and dim sum in combination! With hundreds of aromas of Chinese tea to be exploring, Sam and Alex (Sinophiles/foodies/tea obsessives) would like to introduce the diversity of this delightful beverage by hosting their very own tea (not supper) club in the delights of our Streatham abode. Where London does brunch, Southern China does Dim Sum; a good selection of Chinese tea and small light dishes. PaoCha therefore, invites you their very own Chinese style brunch of copious amounts of tea ranging from TieGuanYin Oolong, to Pu’er, to Fuding’s best White tea, and a good filling of Chinese inspired food!
10. Sundays, 12 & 26 July, from 11-6pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the canal in Islington, £10.
This event brings together a passion for tea, poetry and beautiful origami all together as a beautiful package. It includes a personalised poem on an origami model by their professional poet together with a home baked cake and lovely afternoon tea will spoil your senses. Enjoy the landscape of hundreds of flying origami birds, floating boats and swans, and lovely flowers. Friendly and relaxed atmosphere with bird songs in the background. Add aroma to your origami with a scented paper…
11. Thursday, 14 July, at 14.00 in SE London - Tea Meditation with me, FREE
Tea meditation is a Mindfulness meditation. It is performed in noble silence with me gently and quietly guiding through it in the beginning. There will be an opportunity to talk before and after meditation, and small snacks will be provided afterwards. We rarely have time to just be with whatever is there, in the present moment. To just sit down, and be totally in the process of drinking tea. And when we do that, magic happens.
12. Thursday, 14 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Tea Brewing Masterclass with Tea Studio, £20
Learn (and taste) why its so important to brew tea correctly and the key points to doing this. During the masterclass you'll taste both badly (to show the difference) and expertly brewed teas as well as learning traditional and modern methods for brewing specialist teas. All of course with plenty of discussion and advice so you can make your tea brewing experience better every time.
13. Wednesday, 15 July, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in Notiing Hill. £25
I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!
14. Sunday, 19 June, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English
I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks really good! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.
16. Saturday, 25 July, at 11.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20
Over the two hours, they will cover the diversity of the 6 tea families, tasting exemplar teas within each category. Kyle will explain how each of the teas are made and what sets each tea family apart. Lots of useful information!
18. Thursday, 30 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Matcha Masterclass with Vivid Drinks, £24 - CANCELLED
During the event you will be guided through matcha samplings and learn all about the various matcha grades. Experts from Tea Studio and Vivid Drinks will give you an understanding of Matcha and its origions. Uncovering its history and how matcha is made. I will be there making some photos, so hopefully see you there!
Tea Events this week in London 6 – 12 April
This week there are a few events again, some of them are recurring, and some are new, and I am sure you will find something according to your taste and soul desire! 1. Tuesday, 7 April, at 7pm – Tea and Food Pairing at Noodle House in Piccadilly, £25 Explore which teas go best with the dishes as Kyle skilfully takes you through five combinations.Book your tickets to avoid disappointment!
2. Friday, 10 April, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.
I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/
3. Saturday, 11 April, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - Black and Pu-erh– Teas from India, China and other areas., £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/
4. Sunday, 12 April, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £25
Discover tea and dim sum in combination! With hundreds of aromas of Chinese tea to be exploring, Sam and Alex (Sinophiles/foodies/tea obsessives) would like to introduce the diversity of this delightful beverage by hosting their very own tea (not supper) club in the delights of our Streatham abode. Where London does brunch, Southern China does Dim Sum; a good selection of Chinese tea and small light dishes. PaoCha therefore, invites you their very own Chinese style brunch of copious amounts of tea ranging from TieGuanYin Oolong, to Pu'er, to Fuding's best White tea, and a good filling of Chinese inspired food!
Photo is from Paocha
Tea Events this week in London 30 March - 5 April
There are quite a few good ones this week, so don’t miss your chance and join them if you can! 1. Tuesday, 31 March at 18.30 in Greenwich – Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington’s Tea Emporium. £20
I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Only 3 places left, so if you would like to join them this month, do not hesitate any longer! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!
2. Tuesday, 31 March, at 19.30 in Central London, just off Regent street – Tea Masterclass with Lalani!
It costs £25, but you take home with you the whole jar of Lalani’s Assam Tea, which they sell for £10. Amazing Value!
3. Wednesday, 1 April, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18
My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!
That’s what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: “Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it’s roots from Dao and Zen Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it’s setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth.”
4. Saturday, 4 April, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - Introduction to Tea – Teas from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
Enjoy!!!!!
PS. Photo is taken from Lalani's web-site
Tea Events this week in London 16-22 March
There are lots of tea events in London this week, to suit any taste or language - from tea and cheese pairing, meditative tea ceremony with gongs to tea tasting tours and walks. Have a look! 1. Wednesday, 18 March, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting in Notting Hill (La Cave Fromage) led skilfully and passionately by Kyle, in ENGLISH, £20
I reviewed this event previously in one of my posts and now this is another opportunity for me to say how amazing this event is. Explosion of tastes and aromas will blow your mind, literally. Highly recommended!!!
2. Wednesday, 18 March, at 8pm - in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath, in ENGLISH, £18
My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!
That’s what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: “Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it’s roots from Dao, Zen and Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it’s setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth.”
3. Saturday, 21 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - The Blues – Oolong teas from Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
Tea Events this week in London 9-15 March
This week there are three amazing tea events for your choice!!! 1. Friday, 13 March, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum - Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.
I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/
Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2050&title=The%20Way%20of%20Tea&eventType=Demonstration
2. Saturday, 14 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - Shades of Green – Green teas from Japan, Korea, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!
Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.
http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/
3. Sunday, 15 March, at 2pm at We Make London Cafe, in Chalk Farm - Introduction to the Fine Tea World with Momo Cha Tea Company! It costs £30, but T-Lovers followers can still get the Early Bird discount and get the place for £24 (Just enter discount code: EARLYBIRDMARCH). Amazing Value!
I haven't been to any of Momo Cha's events, and haven't yet tried their teas. I am planning to attend their Tea Tasting on the 26 March though and write a blog post about it. But, from their website their teas seem to be really good (all green Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese) and we talked with Mojca on e-mail. I really liked our conversation and I am sure their event is going to be a real gem for all tea lovers!
This is what they write about their event:
"We'll guide you on an experiential journey through the fine teas of Japan, Taiwan and Korea. We will be brewing, tasting, appraising different types of tea, speak about tea history and learn about tea benefits.
Along with tea, we will be enjoying delicious handmade gluten-free snacks.
Each participant will also receive a lovely gift to take home.
You can book your tickets here: http://www.momochafineteas.com/tea-events/tea-tasting-class-15th-march-2015
I hope you enjoy your tea activities this week!
Tea Events This Week in LondonЧайные Мероприятия на Этой Неделе в Лондоне
Tea Events for this week! There are quite a few good ones this week, so don't miss your chance and join them if you can!
1. Tuesday, 27 January at 18.30 in Greenwich - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington's Tea Emporium. £20
I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure... Only two places left, so if you would like to join them this month, do not hesitate any longer!
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1
2. Thursday, 29 January, at 19.30 in Central London, just off Regent street - Matcha Masterclass with Lalani! It costs £35, but you take home with you the whole jar of Lalani's Matcha Gold Dust, which they sell for £29. Amazing Value!
I will be there making photographs for my blog post, and it would be really great see you there too!
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2
3. Friday, 25 January, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum - Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.
I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/
Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255
4. Sunday, 1 February, at 19.00 in Covent Garden - Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18
My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!
That's what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: "Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it's roots from Dao, Zen and Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it's setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth."
http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/
5. Sunday, 1 February, ALL DAY in Birmingham - Day Retreat: Meditation & the Way of Tea. DONATION BASIS
If by any chance you are in Birmingham this weekend, there is an amazing all day tea and meditation event, which is worth coming to especially, even if you are not living there!!!
Come for a nice, relaxing day drinking Tea in relaxing Tea Ceremonies, meditating and sharing lunch together . . . Please book with Birmingham Buddhist Centre on 0121 449 5279. The day is on a donation basis.
http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/Чайные Мероприятия в Лондоне на этой неделе для вас!
На этой неделе происходят несколько прекрасных чайных мероприятий, поэтому если вы любите чай, этот пост будет вам очень интересен!
1. Вторник, 27 Января в 18.30 в Гринвиче - Чайной Сырная Дегустация с Whittington's Tea Emporium. £20
Я сходила на это мероприятие в Ноябре, и хочу сказать, что при воспоминании о взрыве вкусовых ощущений на моем языке я до сих почти падаю в обморок. И я не шучу. Это просто настоящий улет во всех смыслах! У них осталось всего два места на вторник!
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1
2. Четверг, 29 Января, в 19.30 в Центральном Лондоне, офф Риджентс Стрит - Мастеркласс по Матче с Lalani! Он стоит £35, но после него вы с собой заберете домой баночку матчи от Лалани, которую они продают за £29. По моему, это просто даром!
Я буду там делать фотографии для своего блога (и тоже познавать нюансы того, как правильно готовить матчу), поэтому будет просто супер круто, если кто нибудь из моих друзей туда тоже придет!
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2
3. Пятница, 25 Января, в 14.00 и 15.00 в British Museum - Демонстрация Японской Чайной Церемонии Urasenke Институтом. БЕСПЛАТНО.
Примерно два года назад я написала блог пост о своем опыте на этой демонстрации, который объяснит, о чем она: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/?lang=ru
Детали мероприятия ЗДЕСЬ: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255
4. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, в 19.00 в Covent Garden - Чайная Церемония и Гонги. £18 Моя любимейшая чайная фея Kat Bambul проведет вас в очередное волшебное путешествие в страну чая и незабываемых звуков гонга. И это путешествие просто нельзя пропустить!
Вот что она сама пишет о чайной церемонии в описании своего мероприятия: "Gong Fu Чайная церемония это прекрасный и медитативный ритуал приготовления и употребления чая, который берет свои корни из традиций Дао, Дзен и Буддизма, где чай считают духовным напитком. Мы будем пить чай с древних деревьев, которым позволяют расти естественным образом в соответствии с дикой природой, которые богаты веществами, воздействующими на наше сознание и наше тело. Чай высокого качества приводит нас в медитативное состояние, где мы пребываем в философском и творческом настрое, состоянии поной удовлетворенности, свободы и открыты мистическому. Во время церемонии мы ценим красоту состояния здесь и сейчас, наслаждаемся всеми нашими чувствами и ощущаем чай, все, что окружает церемонию, нас самих и нашу связь с природой. Мы соединяемся с чайным духом, и позволяем себе течь в безвременном пространстве между небом и землей"
http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/
5. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, ВЕСЬ ДЕНЬ в Бирмингеме - Однодневный Ретрит: Медитация & Путь Чая. Оплата по принципу DONATION.
На самом деле, это то мероприятие, которое стоит посетить, даже если вы не живете в Бирмингеме. Оно стоит того, чтобы специально туда приехать. Ник, который будет проводить этот медитационно чайный ретрит уникальная личность. Рядом с ним наступает полный Дзен. И я вам обещаю, вы вернетесь домой с ощущением, как будто вы пробыли неделю в небольшом монастыре на склоне холмов в Японии.
Регистрация по телефону 0121 449 5279.
http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/
Надеюсь, вам удастся попасть на какие нибудь из этих волшебных и познавательных мероприятий, и насладится чаем во всей его красе!
Matcha, dark chocolate and a Georgian manМатча, шоколад и грузинский мужчина с красками
This picture is of a georgian man with paints, made by a georgian man from a mental institution in Tbilisi. The patients in that mental institution were going through art therapy, which proved being very successful. In the end, they brought all their work to London, and sold them at an auction and all the proceeds went to support continuing of art therapy in that mental institution in Tbilisi. I got this picture from that auction, and for today's mood I just love how white, and black and green matcha colours play together.
ту картинка нарисована грузинским человеком, который проходил арт терапию в ментальном доме в Тбилиси. И потом все картины, нарисованные душевнобольными людьми, проходящими эту арт терапию, были привезены в Лондон, и проданы через аукцион, и все собранные средства пошли на то, чтобы арт терапия в таких заведенях продолжалась! И вот я купила эту картинку там. Как и штаны, спортивные, на которых была такая крутая вышивка!! Это человек, который просто помешан на вышывании в Тбилиси, и в ментальном доме он вышивает все, что видит: и штаны, и халаты врачей, и тапочки. Из спортивных штанов они превратились в нечто удивительное и волшебное, настоящее произведение искусства! Вот такие таланты иногда проявяются у людей...
Ну а здесь мне просто понравилось это прекрасное сочетание белого, черного и зелени матчи. Правда, она выделяется светлым пятном?
Event not to be missed: tea and food pairingНе пропустите: чай и еда в комбинации в Лондоне
There will be an amazing event on pairing food and tea on Tuesday, 5th of August! Just £15, and for this price you will get several amazing teas, perfectly matched to several amazing dishes and a talk by Kyle about why this particular tea goes well with this particular dish. It's a bargain! And Kyle is a tea professional, who spent a year in Japan, and achieved level I mastery in Japanese Tea Ceremony. Highly Recommended! I am sad that I will not be able to attend as I am going to be away. But these events are monthly, and each month Kyle covers different group of teas. So I will definitely go in September. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/whittingtons-tea-emporium-5974610553В Лондоне во вторник на следующей неделе, 5 Августа, вечером, будет прекрасное чайное мероприятие. Вечер о том, как комбинировать еду и чай, и какой чай подходит лучше к какой еде. Всего за 15 фунтов вы получаете 4 или 5 чаев, и такое же количество тщательно подобранных к чаю блюд. Плюс обьяснения от Кайла, почему именно этот чай именно с этим блюдом. По моему, это очень круто! За такую цену такое мероприятие!
Я уже говорила о Кайле, он чайный профессионал, и жил год в Японии, где получил первую степень мастера чайной церемонии. Такие мероприятия он устраивает раз в месяц, каждый раз обсуждая разные группы чаев. А сейчас он работает над очередным проектом: чай и сыр. Думаю будет очень интересно!
Мне безумно жалко, что я не могу попасть на это мероприятие, так как я уезжаю в Литву на весь Август, но очень рекомендую!
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/whittingtons-tea-emporium-5974610553
English Afternoon Tea - Browns HotelАнглийская Чайная Церемония - Browns Hotel
Now it's time to share my experience of English Afternoon Tea at Browns Hotel. It impressed me more than any place that I have been to before. Not with its tea though, but with the real english atmosphere, impeccable service and food. But lets start from the beginning. Browns Hotel is the place where lots of famous people stayed. Not only did they stay there but they also created and wrote some of their work under the influence of the hotel's atmosphere (and no doubt, tea that they had there). Ridyard Kipling was staying at Browns Hotel, and Agatha Christie was a frequent visitor. Some say that it is this hotel that was a prototype for Christie's Bertram Hotel, so much loved by Miss Marple. Who knows, may be the tea room's atmosphere, tea and scones helped her solve those really twisted murders? Queen Victoria used to be a guest in this hotel's tea room too. To sum it up, Browns Hotel is well-known, famous and so attracts a lot of visitors. Well, at least for my mum the biggest attraction was Miss Marple story. And I think she is not alone in this. So my mum decided to give herself a present and have an Afternoon Tea experience in Browns Hotel.
This is how the hotel looks on the outside:
The atmosphere inside was beautiful - live piano music, amazing service, quite a few people at the tables chatting away in a relaxed way. Even heavy rain outside was complementing English Afternoon tea scene!
By the way, there were quite a few Japanese and Chinese in the tea room. From my experience visitors of the English Tea Ceremonies are usually from countries that appreciate tea quite a lot. And these are mainly England, Japan, China and Russia. There are occasionally people from other countries too, but they are quite rare, in my opinion.
This time we ordered black tea only (or red, if we use Chinese classification of tea). Frankly, I was so impressed with the atmosphere at Browns that I wanted to keep this impression and not spoil it with green or white teas brewed for an indefinite amount of time in boiling water. Afterwards my friend, who is an owner of the Chinese Tea shop told me that once she ordered white tea there. And while the tea itself was of exceptional quality, the way it was brewed in boiling water was not. Moreover, it was served in a silver teapot, in which previously black teas were brewed, so this affected the taste and colour of white tea. It looked more brownish than white. But we avoided this dilemma by ordering different varieties of black tea only. I rarely drink black tea. Almost never. Hence, it's quite difficult for me to judge whether black tea I am drinking is good or not.Probably, if it's utterly awful, I will recognise this fact. But honestly, to understand the difference between an ok and a good black tea, and may be even a very good one would be a difficult task for me (unless the tea is Chinese).
Therefore, I can say with clear conscience, that all tea was good at Browns Hotel. Well, except Lapsang Souchong again - I always order this tea, out of curiosity, to see if it's flavoured or not. And as always, in these kind of places, it was flavoured. But I made a decision to ignore this fact. Because as far as my understanding goes, English Afternoon Tea is not really about tea. It is about a setting, an atmosphere, and food. It's definitely not about green or white teas. May be it is about black teas, as it is where the heart and soul of british people is. But again, black teas from anywhere but China. Because Lapsang Souchong is always below the standard quality at these ceremonies.
So what kind of teas did we have there? For a start we ordered Nilgiri and Assam teas (from India). For afterwards - Lapsang Souchong and another tea, grown in England. Yes! Did you know? There is a tea plantation called Tregothnan in Cornwall, where tea is grown, processed and blended. They claim they are relatives of Earl Grey, who got from one chinese man a present in the form of a recipe for the very famous tea called in the same way - Earl Grey. The tea was not bad at all, but as I previously said already, all black teas for me are "not bad". :)
Tea was served in these silver teapots, which is better than metal. But it would still be much nicer if it was served in porcelain, at least for me. And as you can see they have a white table cloth on the table, which immediately puts you into a special, festive mood.
And a silver strainer matching the teapots:
Food can be discussed endlessly. But what I wanted to share is that in Browns Hotel they had a choice - traditional tea ceremony, and a healthy version (without wheat and sugar). I chose a healthy version, while my mum stuck to the traditional one. What I also wanted to point out, because I personally didn't know that - at most English Afternoon Teas you can replenish your tray of finger sandwiches, or scones or little cakes at no extra cost however many times you like. So it's basically eat as much as you can - if you can actually take in that much of this delicious food. :)
Here are some photos of the food there. There is no need for comments as the photos say it all, but I will make a note of what is what.
Our table:
Healthy option - Tabulae:
Fruit kebab:
Mini wheat and sugar free cakes:
Scones and jam from the "classic" menu:
Strawberry jam and clotted cream (so tender and smooth …. mmmmmm)
Mini cakes in the traditional option:
To draw a conclusion: this place in my top favourites at this moment. Not only the food was great and tea not bad, but we had what people call "the experience". It was almost like I went back 100 years, got soaked in the atmosphere of London in those days and got transferred back. A journey beyond time and space. In the previous place, although it was very nice too, I had a feeling of simply having an expensive gluttonous meal. Here, it felt differently. So, I highly recommend to all, who would like to have an English Afternoon Tea experience.Ну вот пришла пора рассказать и об Английской Чайной Церемонии в Browns Hotel. Сразу скажу, что впечатлил он гораздо больше всех предыдущих мест. Но не чаем, а своей атмосферой, сервисом, едой, а также своей историей.
Но начну с самого начала. Browns Hotel известен тем, что там останавливалось много известных людей. И они там не просто останавливались, но под влиянием атмосферы отеля (и как мне хочется думать, его чайной комнаты) творили и писали в номерах, и произвели на свет много прекрасных произведений. Например, там часто останавливался Редьярд Киплинг. И Агата Кристи. Считается, что именно чайная комната этого отеля прослужила прототипом Bertram Hotel, в котором все время жила Мисс Марпл. И под действием чая и пирожных разгадывала самые запутанные убийства. Говорят, что Королева Виктория тоже частенько захаживала туда выпить чай. Вообщем, Browns Hotel известен, знаменит и поэтому манит многих посетить его. Во всяком случае, для моей мамы огромным привлекающим фактором было то, что Мисс Марпл там пила чай. И я думаю, что это является большим плюсом не только для моей мамы. И мама решила сделать себе подарок и сходить туда на чай.
Вот так отель выглядит снаружи:
Обстановка внутри была прекрасна! Музыкальное сопровождение на фортепиано, оживленная атмосфера, прекрасный сервис. И даже дождь за окном соответствовал традиционному английскому чаепитию.
Кстати, было много японцев, китайцев. Я вообще заметила, что на чайные церемонии ходят в основном ценители чая - из стран, в которых чай пьют и любят. А это Англия, Япония, Китай, Россия. Изредка можно встретить представителей других стран, но они действительно встречаются довольно редко.
Чай в этот раз мы заказали исключительно черный (или красный, по китайской классификации). Если честно, мне настолько понравилась атмосфера в Браунз, что портить впечатление зеленым или белым чаем, заваренным кипятком, совершенно не хотелось! Потом уже мне подруга, владелица магазина китайских чаев рассказала, что она там как-то заказала белый чай. Несмотря на то, что сам чай был прекрасного качества, заварили его кипятком, в серебряном чайнике, в котором до этого заваривали черный. И конечно, это повлияло и на вкус, и на цвет чая. Он совершенно не был белым, скорее каким-то коричневатым на вкус. Но мы этой дилеммы избежали, так как с самого начала решили заказать черный чай. Я очень редко пью черный чай. Практически никогда. Поэтому мне сложно судить хороший он или нет. Наверное если полная гадость - я пойму и начну плеваться. Но честно, различить ок черный чай от хорошего или от очень хорошего мне будет сложно.
Поэтому сразу скажу - весь чай, который мы пили был хороший. Ну кроме Лапсанг Сушонга - этот экземпляр я всегда заказываю из любопытства - чтобы узнать, с ароматизаторами он или нет. И как всегда, оказалось, что да, с ароматизаторами. Но я решила закрыть на это глаза. Так как когда его принесли, я поняла еще раз - английская чайная церемония не про чай, а про атмосферу и еду. По крайней мере, не про зеленый или белый чай, скорее про любой черный чай, который не из Китая. Так как в случае с Лапсангом, это тоже полный пролет.
Так какие же мы пили там чаи? Для начала заказали Нилгири (на фото вверху) и Ассам, оба из Индии. А потом Лапсанг Сушонг и чай, выращенный в Англии. Да! Вы не знали? В Cornwall есть чайная плантация с труднопроизносимым названием Tregothnan, где выращивают чай. Они говорят, что являются потомками того самого Графа Грея, которому один китаец много лет назад подарил секрет знаменитого сегодня чая Earl Grey. Чай действительно был совсем не плох, но как я уже говорила выше, для меня все черные чаи "совсем неплохие" :)
Чай подавали в таких серебряных чайниках, что конечно не плохо, но лучше бы в керамических. Плюс, как вы видите, есть скатерть, а это сразу придает торжественность моменту.
Ну и ситечко под стать:
О еде можно говорить очень много. Она была прекрасна, не придраться. Но что мне больше всего понравилось, так это выбор. Можно было выбрать здоровое меню, а можно было традиционное. Мама выбрала традиционное, а я здоровый вариант. И оба были прекрасны, но мне больше понравился мой, здоровый вариант, без муки и сахара. Момент, о котором хотелось бы упомянуть - на английских чайных церемониях можно заказывать все по второму, третьему… десятому кругу бесплатно. Если вам захотелось съесть больше сендвичей, или сконов, или пирожных - все это вам принесут, сколько бы вы ни заказывали. Если у вас конечно будет место для всех этих яств. :)
Вот несколько фотографий с едой. Комментировать излишне, но напишу что есть что.
Наш стол:
Здоровый вариант - Табуле
Фрукты на палочке вместо сконов:
Маленькие пирожные без муки и сахара:
Сконы с джемом из обычного меню:
Клубничный джем и клоттед крим (такой нежный и кремовый….. ням ням)
И маленькие пирожные в традиционном меню:
Вообщем, если подвести итоги, это место - мой фаворит на данный момент. У меня действительно было такое чувство, что я окунулась в Англию 100 лет назад. Атмосфера полностью соответствовала. Мы получили опыт. Если сравнивать с прошлым местом, у меня было чувство - дорого объелись. И все. А здесь осталось ощущение, что я побывала в другом измерении, временном пространстве, и окунулась в традиционную английскую атмосферу. Советую!
Chinese eating routineТочный режим питания у китайцев
What constantly amazes me in China is food. To be more precise - the chinese attitude to food. Meal times are set and are not subject to discussions. Lunch at 12pm, and dinner at 6pm. You can almost check your watch according to that.
And the whole day is structured and planned around these times! If anyone ever thought that I was too obsessed with routine and timed feeding of my baby - they should come to China and see how people eat here!
They plan their trips to another town in such a way, so that they arrive there exactly for lunchtime (or dinner) - well, with extra 15 minutes set aside for finding a place to eat. And the day is usually planned in such a way that 12-13, and 6-7pm are free.
Well, the food is amazing here - not even close to Chinese food we have in UK! Light, diverse... It appears that most Chinese restaurants and take-aways in UK are run by people from Hong Kong, and the food they offer is so different from the food in the south of China!
And people are generous with food. The Yixing Teapot master Dong Ya Fang was constantly taking us out to amazing places and her generosity left me speechless!!!
Что меня не устает поражать, так это еда в Китае. А точнее отношение к еде и режим питания у китайцев. Едят они почти всегда в одно и то же время, и это время не подлежит дискуссии - обед в 12, ужин в 6 вечера.
Но что самое интересное, они даже весь день планируют вокруг еды! Меня раньше часто упрекали, что я "режимная мама" - то есть, у моего ребенка режим дня, и кормлю я его в одно и то же время.. Если бы эти люди увидели бы, как питаются китайцы, то наверное перестали бы меня упрекать! Да и я бы всем говорила, что просто в прошлой жизни я была китайцем, и до сих пор чусвтвую отголоски того времени... ))) Если они едут в другой город, то выезжают именно в такое время, чтобы в тот город обязательно попасть к 12 дня, то есть ко времени обеда. Или к 11.30 - но только для того, чтобы было время на поиски места, где можно поесть. И время с 12-13 и с 18-19 всегда свободно - до еды. То есть никаких планов на это время никто не строит.
И еда здесь конечно очень сильно отличается от той, которую мы привыкли видеть у себя в странах - во всяком случае, от китайской еды в Англии и Литве. Она легкая, нежирная, очень много овощей, и рыбы. Оказывается, китайские рестораны в Англии содержатся выходцами из Гонконга - и их еда очень сильно отличается от материковой китайской. На самом деле, отличается как небо и земля.
И китайцы очень щедрые с пищей. Мастерица исиньских чайничков Dong Ya Fang всячески показывала своё гостеприимство и постоянно водила нас по каким-то шикарным местам с какой-то неземной едой. Вообщем, в результате этого мои штаны уже трещат по швам на мне. Я вообще, конечно любитель простой пищи, несмешанной вообще, всё отдельно. Но здесь дала себе волю. И это после одной недели. А что будет после трёх - страшно подумать!
Can you guess what plant is this?Мероприятие про растение Вечной Молодости
Last month I went to a Healing Foods and Plant Medicine event. It happens once a month in Passing Clouds (Dalston), and the topic is (as you can guess from the name) wild healing plants. Each event is dedicated to one plant only. In February it was a Nettle. This month - something different, and we had to recognise it from a drink.
The session started with Nettles - there was food served with nettles, people told poems about nettles, and even brought art pieces with nettles in them. The food was tasty, and they also served a Nettle infusion, which was a gift from heaven.
And then the second part started. We were separated into groups of six people, and began our session. I found it really nice that we were given a tea infusion with this month's plant, and had to spend 30 minutes smelling, tasting and feeling it in our body, and recording every feeling and sensation we got from it. Basically, it smelled something like in between boiled potato skins and sesame seeds, but tasted much better. When we shared afterwards our feelings about this plant, some people said it was like Kurt Cobain!!!! :) Very creative. Apparently, this plant is extremely good for detoxing and cleaning lymphatic system. And according to "Herbal of Mydfai" - if you drink just this plant for 90 days you will become amazingly beautiful! However nobody knows if this is true, as nobody ever was too strong to do it for 90 days!
And here are our glasses and a drawing of the body where we feel sensations when drinking this infusion.
Very interesting meeting, will be going to more! :)
На прошлой неделе мы с моей подругой Кешей ходили на интересное мероприятие, которое называлось "Дикие целебные растения".
Если честно, я туда пошла только потому, что в описании мероприятия было написано, что в какой-то момент будет проводиться "чайная церемония". Всё проходило в довольно прикольном местечке под названием Passing Clouds на Далстоне. Это такой бывший паб, который переделали сначала в сквот, ну а потом вот в такое культурное заведение, где проходят разные необычные и интересные события и занятия.
Вообщем, именно это мероприятие проходило всего второй раз - первый раз был в Феврале, и вот второй - в Марте. Каждый вечер посвящён только одному растению, например Февральская встреча была посвящена Крапиве, а эта - совершенно другому растению, которое, я надеюсь, вы угадаете! :)
Как я уже сказала, тема прошлой встречи была её величество Крапива - и поэтому эта встреча началась с того, что подавалась еда, в которой одним из ингредиентов была крапива - нут со сладкой картошкой и крапивой:
И крапивная настойка. А на тарелке лежат шарики из имбиря, орехов и семечек, и мне кажется немного крапивы там тоже есть.
На самом деле было очень вкусно, и по домашнему, и крапиву девочка из этой группы собирала сама, своими руками, а потом это всё готовила.
Где она её собирала - я не знаю, но догадываюсь, что прямо в Лондоне - в скверах и парках. И дядечка, который вёл эту встречу, сказал интересную вещь - что самые лучшие и полезные для нас растения растут прямо у нас за дверью, и не важно - мегаполис это или нет. Потому что раз они там растут, то во первых, они с вами лучше всего резонируют, а во вторых, растут они там потому, что это вам нужно, а не просто так.
Кстати, вот он этот дядечка, на вид ему под 90, но с чувством юмора у него всё прекрасно, а глаза такие ясные, такие светлые!!! Дай Бог мне дожить до такого возраста с таким внутренним и внешним состоянием! Он - профессор химии в университете, правда был им. А потом ушёл с головой в дикие растения, и начал жить ими. Правда, он похож немного на нашего Дядюшку Ау? Такой лесной светлый человек?
Поели, ну а потом с прошлой встречи люди пришли с подготовленными заданиями - кто поэму про крапиву сочинил, кто картину нарисовал, кто просто своими ощущениями поделился. Творчески.
А дальше настал черёд нового растения. Всем разлили чай из него в стеклянные стаканы, и следующие пол часа надо было нюхать, пробовать, чувствовать как это растение в теле проявляется, и записывать все свои ощущения и чувства. И пытаться понять, что это такое.
В нашей группе было несколько человек, все хиппи, или учатся на экологических фермеров. Один парень - то ли поляк, то ли ещё откуда то, но точно из Восточной Европы - он вообще помешан на всём этом. Он единственный сразу узнал, что это за растение по вкусу, и провёл поучительную речь о вреде пшеницы и хлеба, а также о том, что все салаты и зелень в магазинах не имеют жизненной силы и он ездит на велосипеде в Лондонские парки и собирает растения и травы, которые там растут. Моя подруга Кеша от этих разговоров напряглась, но старалась улыбаться.
А мне он понравился - своей непосредственностью, и уверенностью в себе. Где бы мне получить этой уверенности?? :)
Вот задание на экране:
А вот наши стаканы, рисунок, на котором мы должны были отметить, где в теле чувствуется эффект от напитка, ну и само растение (нам его выдали в самом конце после дискуссии):
На запах этот чай был похож на что-то среднее между варёными шкурками картошки и кунжутом, на вкус оказался намного вкуснее! Другие люди давали разные сравнения - кто-то даже сказал, что это растение как Курт Кобейн. И конечно это сказал музыкант.
Что мне понравилось во всё этом - так это то, что тебе не просто говорят название, и ты его пьешь. Нет, ты действительно очень долго чувствуешь аромат, вкус, как будто срастаешься с этой травкой, всеми клеточками тела ощущаешь ее присутствие в себе - и таким образом действительно запоминаешь его - то есть если я его ещё когда либо встречу, я точно буду по запаху и вкусу знать, что это именно оно. Но более того, ты как будто становишься с этим растением друзьями. Через все эти действия ты как будто куришь вместе с ним трубку мира и дружбы, и всё - вы теперь друзья. Очень интересное ощущение.
Это растение очень хорошо очищает лимфатическую систему, и хорошо для детокса и голодания. Растет практически повсеместно. В одной старинной книге по лечебным растениям написано, что если пить только его 90 дней, то действует как эликсир молодости и красоты. Но пока никто не испробовал это на себе. 90 дней никто не выдерживает! :)
Вот оно поближе - сможете угадать? Если честно, даже когда мне сказали название, я эту травку не знала. И даже на русском не очень понимаю о чём идёт речь. Но может кто лучше разбирается?
