Herbal tea drinking has been a soothing and calming ritual for many civilizations throughout history, and it is still practiced today. It can surely help you relax and center your thoughts, connect with others, and bring a moment of stillness and relaxation into your day.
In fact, drinking tea for meditation has been practiced for over 900 years! It is a type of meditation that developed in Japan and is classified as Zen meditation. Zen meditation is primarily concerned with gaining insights into mindfulness and the nature of our existence as beings. So, when most people think of meditation, they envision this.
It entails being entirely present in every moment while also being mindful of how unique and fleeting these experiences are. So, it emphasizes more on being appreciative of every moment and what we have in our lives. It’s quite exciting to try this Zen meditation when you read about it and see how herbal tea is interwoven into it.
What is tea meditation?
Tea meditation entails using tea benefits to become attentive and present during the herbal tea drinking ritual. The rituals include preparation of the tea, sipping of the organic tea, and observing the effects on your body and mind.
So, you may do an organic tea meditation at any time of day - try it in the morning to make your day, in the midst of the day for enhanced attention and clarity, or at the end of the day for a restful night's sleep. You can reap tea benefits at any time of the day!
Tea benefits for meditation
Many emotional and physical advantages can be gained by incorporating mindfulness into several tea practices. Several herbal tea benefits are as follows:
1. Green tea:
- Green tea helps to improve brain function and increase burning fat.
- Another tea benefit is its role in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
- A healthy bioactive compound is also an essential feature of green tea.
2. Organic tea
- A tea that enhances your antioxidant level while maintaining a healthy balance of friendly bacteria in your digestive system is organic tea.
- One of the major organic tea benefits is improving immunity.
- Another organic tea benefit is that it controls blood sugar levels perfectly.
3. Black tea
- It helps in the reduction of cancer risk.
- Another black tea benefit is boosting intestinal health as well as heart health.
4. Iced tea
- Iced tea benefits are that it can secure you from various chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
- Flavonoids have also been found in iced tea; they act as a treatment of sprains, bruises and cuts.
5. White tea
- White tea is full of antioxidants and also helps in losing weight.
- Additionally, it assists in protecting teeth from bacteria.
How to meditate with herbal tea?
The preparation of the tea is the first step in tea meditation. It does not matter how you brew your herbal tea, which tea you select, or what you use to drink it out of — what counts is that you are fully present and conscious during each step.
You also have to devote yourself entirely to the experience. Therefore, each stage of the process should be done with care. If your mind wanders, simply recognize the thought in the present and return to your meditation goal.
In this process, you will make your organic tea as usual, but with an additional layer of awareness and intention added to each step. So, the steps are the same, but your attention is drawn to the sensory experience of brewing and drinking organic tea.
Select your tea:
Is it going to be loose leaf today? Tea in a bag? Take into account your current mood as well as your mental and physical requirements. Perhaps you prefer a caffeinated combination for an invigorating boost or a tranquil herbal tea to relieve your tension. So, take your time to examine why you have chosen this particular tea and how you have prepared it.
Carefully select a cup:
Perhaps it's a mug handed down from a member of the family, a birthday present from a friend, or a handcrafted mug from a local artist. So, select a cup that belongs to you and brings joy to your heart.
Take note of how hot the water is:
Find a suitable position and start to deepen your breath as you wait for the water to boil. As you take a deep breath, pay attention to the sound of the water as it starts to boil. As the water heats up, you can hear the pace of bubbles quicken. This could be a significant waiting duration, so keep an eye out for any impatient thoughts (without judgment).
Take pleasure in the slowness of the process. Instead, take pleasure in the slowness of the procedure as well. See the steam emerging from the kettle and hear the piercing sound of the kettle's whistle as the water gets to a rolling boil.
Keep an eye on the tea transition:
Whether you are using a teabag or an infuser, gently pour water into your cup and watch the color change over time. Gradually the color will get darker. If you want to add milk, cream, sugar, or honey to your herbal tea, do so with care. Consider why you appreciate each addition, as well as how much you really require.
Relish every sip:
In your hands, feel the energy of the cup or handle. Feel the cup's sturdy build. As you grasp the cup, take note of its contour. Lift the cup up to your nose and take a deep breath when you are ready to take your first sip. Enjoy the scent — how does it smell? Is it fresh and fruity, or light and floral?
When you are ready, take your first sip slowly and deliberately. Allow the tea to remain in your mouth for a few moments before tasting it. What's it like to sip it? Allow the flavor to linger on your tongue. As you take your first sip, picture the tea's journey inside your body. It will surely make you feel more alert.
Take it all in and relax:
Feel where you are in space and in relation to other objects surrounding you. Feel grounded in the present moment while you continue to slowly savor your herbal tea. Take note of every spot on your body that touches other objects.
Do you feel compelled to speed up the pace at which you are drinking your organic tea? What's the source of those emotions? Alternatively, you might be pleased to remain in your current location. So, observe your feelings as they arise without passing judgment. As time passes, pay attention to how the temperature changes.
Seal your activity with gratefulness
Take a moment to express gratefulness to yourself for showing gratitude to all the individuals who worked hard to harvest, package, plant, and deliver you this organic tea. Also, be grateful for this current moment of peacefulness as your tea meditation draws to an end.
The tea benefits for meditation are numerous; it mainly serves to lower your anxiety and stress levels. This is an excellent approach to include meditation in your life if you don't have time to meditate. Bringing awareness to your daily actions is an excellent method to become more attentive yet peaceful.