Tea Stories N°5
a journey into the world of tea and beyond
In this series, I write about travels on which I have learned about tea and have experienced hospitality. There is surprising diversity in traditions and tastes revolving around tea. In case you haven’t read the first four stories, you can find them here: N°1, N°2, N°3 and N°4. Enjoy!
5th Cup
Let me take you on yet another visit to the North of Germany, this time to a small vegetable farm. Again, I swing open a door to the home of a warm, welcoming family. It is 8 o’clock and it’s barely dawning outside on this cold November morning. The farmers, a middle-aged couple, and their co-workers, are still seated at the breakfast table, talking through the tasks for the day.
These gardeners are simple, hard-working people, living in an old farm-building remote from any cities and traffic noise. Once you get accustomed to the dirt on the hallway-floor and the spider-webs lurking in the corners, you suddenly see the peculiar, messy beauty of this farm. As the seasons change, the farm’s face changes too, and a natural peacefulness surrounds you as soon as you step on its ground. But especially after working for some hours on the fields, you quickly come to cherish the warm and cosy atmosphere of this house.
Farm mornings
Joining my hosts at the table, I’m offered a cup of tea as we chat on for a while, discussing the weather and the development of the vegetation. At the centre of the table, a large clay pot is filled with hot tea. The hand-made pottery is beautifully ornamented and painted in shades of blue and grey, and the arising steam is made visible through the light of the lamp above it.
Gratefully, I accept the cup of tea I’m offered, letting its warmth fill every corner of my body. I know that its ingredients come from the garden and meadows surrounding the farm. Sage, elderflower, thyme, caraway seeds, cinnamon, apple-peals… anything that nature and its seasons have to offer is integrated into this herbal infusion. And it’s not only for its warmth and taste that I appreciate this tea, but also for its many curative traits. Many plants and spices are well-known for their medical characteristics. They prevent and heal illnesses: anything from a quick cold, to insomnia, high blood pressure and migraine. Who could offer us such a beautiful and useful diversity if not nature itself?
Next month, join me in discovering yet another beautiful tea drinking tradition.
Thank you so much for reading! On another occasion, I will write more about this farm, on which I worked for one year. There, I will introduce you to the concept of ‘community supported agriculture‘, an exciting way of doing farming the alternative way.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to next week’s article ‘Coffee In The Milking Parlour, where I will write about an interesting experience at a Croatian Farm. I share more pictures and insights on my social media channels. So do subscribe to them if you haven’t already (facebook and instagram). Until then, have a wonderful weekend!
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