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| All the photos are about Mingwang Hei Cha - The last tea Eric and I filled with peace |
I was very delighted to host my friend, Eric to have a private tea ceremony this Tuesday afternoon.
The remarkable experience and feelings were incredible. The tranquility of tea was fully engaged our body and mind; the energy of tea was enlightened our soul and spirit. Nothing else but the presence of tea, the purity of tea and the peace of tea.
I was amazed by Eric's deep appreciation and connection with tea. It was very inspiring and meaningful to me. His relationship with tea infused my relationship with him on a different level.
Thank you, Eric, for your precious presence and your precious presence with tea. The moment of the presence with you and tea only once in our lives. It is truly priceless!
And, thank you for sharing your tea ceremony experience at my club.
I spent an afternoon having a private tea session
with my good friend Guitian, also referred to as “Becky.” We went through some amazing teas, including
a Phoenix Wulong newly arrived that was unreal; with a floral aroma next to
none and such a strong aftertaste… this Phoenix was amazing. BUT, we ended the day with a near ecstasy.
I have wanted
to learn more about heicha (dark tea) and was excited when she started to pull
out a few. We had 2 great Fuzhuan teas;
sweet and smooth, quality Fuzhuan is a must try! My heart started to beat fast as she started
to tell me about the last one we were going to sip. It was an exclusive tea that she got from one
of her tea masters, a most gracious gift.
It’s called Mingwang Heicha (名望黑茶, 渠江薄片) from Qu Jiang,
Anhua, Hunan; translated to “Famous Reputation Dark Tea,
Qu River Thin Slices” this tea was also produced not far from Guitian’s home
town. Not knowing what I was doing, I
told her not to waste it on me once she told me the estimated price. Alas, she insisted and I finally gave
in.
I have only been drinking Dark teas for less than a
year, and I was praying silently that I could appreciate it.
I took the normal three sips… silence filled my ears…
the music once in the background had vanished.
Three sips, perhaps less than an ounce and I could feel the Qi begin to
overtake my body. We drank on. My mind
blurred and my body warmed and tingled.
The head, the neck and the hands were affected the most, but as we drank
on, the warmth reached my entire body. I
think it was the 3rd or 4th cup where my eyelids started
to feel very heavy. All my focus was on
nothing and nothing was everywhere. We
were both in a state of amazement. It felt as if my soul left my body and moved
about 3 feet to the right, or left… wherever it moved it certainly was not
within me. I even became emotional, an
effect I have never before experienced from tea. My words slurred and I think,
but am not sure, that I was thinking out loud.
Sadly around the, I have no idea which infusion or
cup, I had to stop as I would have fallen asleep and missed my bus. It was an afternoon to remember, all her teas
were superb, but that last heicha took me to the Elysian Fields. As I started
to leave she offered me a small bit. I
refused; we shall share this experience the next time we sit down for tea with
each other. I am forever indebted to
Guitian not only for sharing such amazing tea with me, but more importantly…
sharing the experience.
-Eric Glass
The owner of The Fragrant Cup
http://www.fragrantcup.com/
http://fragrantcup.teatra.de/
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