The Ritual of Tea

I love tea and how it makes me feel from the thought of it through to the last drop.
I read somewhere, “The love of tea is to love oneself.”
If this is so, I am a happy and loved woman.
Tea has been a ritual in my life for as long as I can remember.
This ritual happens several times daily for me.
There are choices to be made. Which Tea-pot? Which Tea-cup? Which Tea?
The kettle is filled with fresh water to be sure it is full of oxygen so as not to make a flat tea.
I love that waiting for the water to boil, creates anticipation.
I patiently fill some of the time warming the chosen tea-pot to ready it for the infused liquid.
The china tea-cup is also filled with hot water so as not to cool the tea down too quickly.
Now to choose the tea, that’s easy.
I open the cupboard, inhale deeply and let my soul choose.
My soul always knows the perfect type and flavour I require at that moment.
From green to black or white or herbal, there are flavours for every mood or feeling.
The leaves are carefully measured and placed in the strainer awaiting the right time to be set into the teapot.
Just as the kettle boils, the hot water is poured from the tea-pot to ready it for the leaves and excited clear fluid.
The kettle’s contents stream into the waiting pot.
This start’s the unfurling of the leaves that will release the flavour and aroma of the tea.
The timer is set to the perfect amount and the pot is covered.
Sometimes this feels like an eternity until the liquor is ready.
I feel like an addict waiting for a fix.
The bell rings.
The tea leaves are removed and the tea-cup is readied for the entry of the golden elixir.
The cup is filled, then carefully lifted to my nose to always-
Always inhale the magnificent aroma before my first long awaited for sip.
Now the cup touches my lips and I slowly pour…
Perfection – Again