The Art of Chinese Tea as related to the Life's Journey

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The Art of Chinese Tea as related to the Life’s Journey
Tea is an integral part of my life journey and identity. It has been a part of my life since I was born, and ever since I was young, my family was very keen about the quality of the tea that we drank. We, The Chinese, are without a doubt the people who best understand the nature of tea. In the course of our ancient history, tea drink has existed and persisted in line with our culture and lifestyle. I remember when I was young, my father would always meticulously teach me the fine ways of preparing and drinking tea. As a hardworking Chinese man, my father would turn to tea in order to gain a satisfaction and relaxation like no other. He would always come back from his nearby friend’s farm with a handful of green tea leaves that were excellently chosen. As a tea master, my father knew the ways of artfully picking only the finest leaves to make the finest brew of tea in town. My relationship with tea was established thanks to my heritage and the efforts of my father. Little did I knew that it would become more profound over time, even if it had superficial origins.
The Japanese brought the custom of tea drinking into China long ago, but the Chinese differ greatly from the Japanese in terms of tea culture and ceremonies. Through the course of time, the Chinese learned and acquired their own interpretations and symbolisms about the art of tea drinking. Unlike the Japanese, who were very strict and ritualistic in their approach to tea drinking, the Chinese utilize tea in order to enjoy it, savor it. It was a drink to be taken after a hearty meal, and thus it was part of one’s life. For myself, I drank it for health, relaxation, and wellness reasons. Just like that, the Chinese way of drinking tea became a symbolism to their relatively balanced positions about personal characteristics and behaviors. It was inevitable to understand and interpret it such that the Chinese art of drinking tea was integral to how a Chinese can find peace and enlightenment.
As my family loved tea so much, I too became very much indulged in the process of creating an intricate pot of Chinese tea. We brewed tea for almost every occasion and each brew was a representation of our enjoyment of that event. Every brew was masterfully made, and we dedicated every cup to pay our tributes to all our ancestors and future family members to come. The art of drinking tea, for my family, was an act of deep bonding that reflected our heritage and roots. Now that I am here in America, I miss those times...