From my Taiwanese and Japanese background, a day begins from a cup of tea, also ends in a cup of tea. Tea is a part of the daily life. We serve tea to people who need it to show our blessedness. No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.

In 2018 I followed my heart and started making my own tea like how my granny did, I believed my body and soul needed it. In these years, tea making brought back old memories and the connection between me and my ancestors. For me, Tea is not just a collection of human intelligence, but also a gift from mother Nature. Making tea is not just for tea, it's a life's philosophy.

​

Connecting and Healing with Tea

One day, my son's friend came to play. She had some arguments with her mum. She was upset. Out of nowhere, my son decided to make her a cup of honey chamomile tea with some dried primrose flowers on top. She hold the cup and felt the warmth is flowing through. "Thank you I feel much better now." she said. I was surprised. Then she was attracted to the the purple and pink colour from the flowers. "Wow, it is so beautiful. What are they?" she wanted to know. Then they talked about the flowers for 10 minutes. They also walked to the backyard to see more of these flowers.

 

My grandmother is 95 yrs old now, she is a herbalist. In the '40s & '50s, she served her herbal tea for free on the side of the road for students, famers, and travellers (in Taiwanese called, 奉茶, in Japanese called, 供茶). It's a tough time, the world is still recovering from World War II, and people were trying to rebuild their life. My grandmother did what she could, tea offering, to heal people's heart. The villagers all knew her, they said she is the kindest person they've ever met. Everytime when my mum mentions this story, I can tell that she is both proud and respectful. Lately, sciencists proved that the healing and medical benefits of herb tea are powerful. We basically don't need tablets and pills, just herbs and tea.

​

Tea Helps You Find Inner Peace

“If you ask Zen people they will say tea is not something that you pour with unawareness and drink like any other drink. It is not a drink, it is meditation; it is prayer. So they listen to the kettle creating a melody, and in that listening they become more silent, more alert.” – Osho

For me, making tea is a journey to discover who I am. When I grow, collect, dry, and drink these medicinal herbs, I am with myself and learing from nature.

Four years ago, I had a serious endometriomas in both ovaries, at the same time I also suffer from gastric ulcer. Sometimes I still roll on the ground in pain even after I took pain killers. The pain always came randomly, and it seriously affected my work and life. At that time I needed to decide whether to having it surgically removed. I was making a life-changing choice. I did not do the surgery, but instead I slowed my life down and started to make herb tea for myself and my families. Looking back at that period, I really appreciate what the sickness has taught me. Now, all my endometriomas are gone, and the gastric ulcer has also been healed.

When I hold a cup of hot tea, I close my eyes, feel the temperture and smell, sit back and appreciate my surroundings. Thank you to everyone who has being in my life, and thank you, our mother Earth.   

​