Sweet embers of mint waft through the apartment as I hurriedly jump into a pair of PJs and end a day filled with grading, teaching, writing, thinking, meeting, standing, walking, emailing, filing, and many many other th-ings. There is something comforting to ending the day with a cup of hot herbal tea. Tonight - Sweet Peppermint as I stare out of my apartment windows to find a sea of Autumn. I like to put on a big bulky cable sweater, sink into my futon, wrap myself with a blanket and sip on tea while watching TV. Instant meditation.
I really disliked tea when I was growing up. At home, it was chai - a very adult and pungent liquid that my parents drank at least three times a day. My young palate vehemently rejected cardamom and ginger and the caffeine made me feel like I'd eaten a pound of Halloween candy. I began to miss chai when I came to Seattle. The colder (than Cali) winters made me crave warmth and I started to make chai just to remember what my parents house smelled like in the morning. Chai drinking became a way for me to return home. It's still has the same effect.
My Seattle friends (and many in SD as well) introduced me to the pleasures of herbal tea. Whereas my Californians and I usually had coffee dates, friends in Seattle would ask to "have tea" instead. I started slow with familiar milk teas like Assam and Darjeelings. Then, I moved on to more floral teas - hibiscus, jasmine, and anything with peppermint. And now, I love them all - blackberry, lichee, creme brulee, earl grey, chamomile, rooibos, and even yerba mate. Tea has become a continual source of indulgence because it never fails to comfort. Now, I seek out tea houses in the area (like the Kuan Yin Teahouse in Wallingford) to spend time chatting with girlfriends or doing some serious revision work over a cup of pink chai. And, for a young woman who lives alone, a cup of tea can tell stories, generate peace of mind, forgive the errors of the day, and generally - put a smile on my face. Now back to my steaming cup of peppermint...
