lera zujeva 12/02/2016 lera zujeva 12/02/2016

Sun Moon Lake Red Tea and Uluntu Flowers

Red living tea from Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan (which I got from Living Tea UK) is the perfect elevating start of the day! And with these beautiful flowers from @uluntubermondsey , which I get every time I do a tea meditation there this really is connecting me to myself and to nature... Both are wild. Wild Tea and wild flowers. Be wild. Be nature. Be you. Every Tuesday - Tea Meditations in my home at 8pm in London. Every Thursday - Tea Ceremony and Meditation at 1pm Uluntu Bermondsey (63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL)

Today I wanted to tell you a little bit more about Uluntu Space, where Thursday's Tea Meditations take place. Everyone always comments that it is amazing to have a Tea Ceremony, a Tea meditation not to so many beautiful and unusual flowers, because in this way it is much easier to connect to yourself and nature. Each time I use flowers from the shop for our Chaxi - the setting of the tea table. It works almost like a magic, transforming the whole energy of the tea space.

And every time after the Tea Meditation the guys tell me: choose some flowers to take home with you! And I stand there each time, not being able to choose from this variety, from these works of art, so simple and so complicated at the same time. I am always late to pick up my son from school as I it simply takes me a long time to choose! But as a result these flowers are in my home for the whole week before the next meditation! :)

Uluntu is translated as Community in one of the South African languages, and this is how this space feels! You come in, and you feel like you came to a friend's house, the guys meet you and greet you, and you will be able to have some tea there soon (from March) - a good quality tea, that gives you a state of joy, happiness and inspiration. This is going to be a collaboration of T-Lovers tea and Uluntu Bermondsey. So please follow us for more news on this!

Every Thursday there are Thursday Social events with music (Stan is also a DJ with the record collection of 5,000 vinyls in the basement), wine and socialising. Last night I went there to check it out at around 10pm for 15 minutes, there was no party, but people were sitting around the table sipping wine, talking, coming and leaving, and it did really feel like a living room of your best friends. I came for 15 minutes and barely left after 2.5 hours! And I was drinking water, not wine! :)))

Before I left Den gave me an Eucaliptus branch to take home. So my house looks as beautiful as ever with the magic touch of Uluntu Flowers. I am in LOVE. And this place is going to be perfect for tea. Amazing, living, quality tea. The opening os a tea house is planned for the 6 March. It's Sunday, and I hope I will see many of you who have been to my Tea Tours and Meditations!!!!

Uluntu Bermondsey is at 63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL.

lera zujeva 26/10/2015 lera zujeva 26/10/2015

Yesterday I did a private tea tour in London for three amazing girls, one of which booked it as a birthday present to herself. They also wanted to end it with the chinese tea ceremony. Usually we do tea tours in the morning and finish at a cafe, where we have tea and a dressert. But girls could only do it in the afternoon. Which was still ok (I thought), as a cafe closes at 5 or so. However, when I came in the morning to drop off my bag with all the teaware for a tea ceremony, I found out that they close at 4pm, exactly the time, when we were supposed to arrive! After some discussion, they said that it's ok to come and sill have it, but there will be a mess, and lots of deliveries taking place. Of course it was not ideal, as in my mind, when people ask for a tea ceremony, they expect something cosy, magical, quiet and nice. And I wasn't sure if this kind of atmosphere could happen with doors slamming and deliveries taking place. But then I realised that whatever is - is. And because I really cannot do anything about it at that moment, then the tea ceremony will be perfect as it is, whatever and however it is. And so I relaxed and trusted Life that whatever will be it will be the best and the most perfect tea ceremony for that particular situation.

And the strange thing - it was. By Mind's judgement it was not ideal by all means - when we arrived at a patisserie / cafe/ bakery, all the chairs were already stack together, huge trays with desserts were moved from one side to another, lots of people walking, a photo session taking place of the owner with his desserts, and lots of discussions and talks. BUT! The girls LOVED it! They said it was the most amazing experience to be in a bakery after the closing hours, and see the life in the backstage, so to say. Every time they had a sip of tea, they then turned around to discover another huge tray full of new desserts - sometimes there were 100 brownies, the next time it was an abundance of salted caramel cakes, yet another full of strawberry ganache. Every time they had a delightful sigh, and amazement about all this abundance and beauty - almost the heaven of desserts! The owner gave us mince pies as a present, and the whole atmosphere was magical. Patisserie as a back scene, a tea ceremony with the powerful tea, friendly people, and smells of freshly baked cakes and desserts.

It all came out better than anyone expected. And that's what happens when we just relax and let life live through you, as it is - because everything is perfect already.

Thank you Comptoir Gourmand for this magical amazing experience and always supporting all our tea endeavours with your wonderful hospitality! Our Tea Tour and Tea Ceremony was amazing!

lera zujeva 09/09/2015 lera zujeva 09/09/2015

Meditation retreat at Lake Baikal

Recently, I went to Siberia's Lake Baikal for a meditation retreat, and it was such a journey! Insights, realisations and coming back to the body, body, body.... I realised there that the more we are in the body, the more aware we are, the more alive we are, the more we can see the beauty around us. There is no life except from life in our body. When we are in the body, we feel the beauty with our whole being, every cell of our existence. Being present IS to be in the body! So even though I already was more or less embodied quite a lot of the time, this journey made me realise the importance even more. But here I wanted to share my magical journey with YOU with photos, commentaries and insights...

On the way to lake Baikal my plane arrived at 4am and my baggage was lost, as I found out. Baggage with warm clothes, boots and all other necessities for living for 1 week in a tent on the shore of this magical lake... I got worried, anxious, angry. But then I put my ear plugs in, inflated my neck cushion and lied down on the metal chairs in the airport. I started feeling my anxiety and my worry in my body, living through it's intensity and discomfort. I was lying there until this intensity dissolved and I started feeling waves of energy and subtle vibrations all over my body.

Suddenly the anxiety and worry was gone. And I felt like laughing. I realised how comical this situation is. And how grateful I am for at least takings socks out from the suitcase in moscow, so I was wearing warm socks and havayanas, ear plugs from noise and a neck cushion, and I felt warm, cosy and comfortable!!!! By luggage arrived with the next plane 7 hours later! How great is that? ))

The top photo is Lake Baikal on Island Ol'chon at 5am each morning. I liveed in a tent and woke up at 4.30, to have my glass of hot water, do some yoga and mediate. And it's amazing to meditate in the open air with this view. We live in a naked part of Baikal, it's called Steppe in Russian and there is lots of space, wind and peacefulness. I was not very happy at first as I am a tree person and I love forests, this naked land was a little bit shocking to me. But then I got used to it and came to see it's tremendous beauty and strength. No wonder it is an island of shamans and warriors, they gain their power from this land and the lake. So I fell in LOVE with it.

This little HEART SHAPED lake on the island Ol'chon is called Nuru Nur and they say it's even older than Baikal. Legends say that Chingiz Khan used to dip in it to get blessed before his voyages, and I simply hope that through swimming in it my heart opened a bit more. There is a possibility as the teacher monk from Thailand was concentrating on the heart a lot. Fingers crossed.

Here I am in that Heart Shaped lake. The water was not that cold actually, even warmer than in Baikal itself. The was a lot of algae at the bottom, which lovingly coated my feet. The legend also says, that whoever swims in this little lake will meet their second half moon after. :) When I came out I had the strongest and most powerful meditation on its bank. Something definitely shifted in my perception, and the whole body was vibrating with joy.

Our retreat was not as strict as usual vipassana retreats are. Majority of participants woke up just before breakfast and morning meditation (which is understandable as it was freezing before sunrise!). But there were a few who woke up almost every morning at 4 or 5 am and did some exercises, meditation and swam in the cold waters of Baikal. Lesha was one of them. I called him my morning routine partner even though we went about our own things in silence. But it was always nice to get up, go to the kitchen to have some hot water and find him meditating like this on most mornings. It made me smile and warmed my heart.

Vipassana meditation retreat is usually associated with silence and slow, mindful movements and actions. But at our retreat in Lake Baikal this summer we didn't really follow these guidelines. Moreover, on the last day we did an amazing dancing session. It was mindful, by the way Right on the shore of Baikal on it sacred land. Katia created a magical playlist, which, together with the energy of the land and lake, created a perfect energy.

Personally, I don't go dancing often. And for me to dance it has to be the right music, the right people, the right vibe. But there I just could not stop. My body was doing all the movements, I was just watching it, sometimes even shocked by its crazy moves, sometimes surprised by their mellowness. Goosebumps invaded my body and were rushing from top to bottom and back. It almost felt like the earth, and music, and people all supported me in this dance. And I gave my all 100% to it.

There are dances like this in London, conscious dance sessions without alcohol, drugs and in the evenings. And I feel something got awakened in me on that day, on that shore. My body showed me how important it is for it to dance.

And of course, meditation retreat without green tea is not a retreat!!! I didn't take all my teapots and tea utensils with me to the meditation retreat in lake Baikal in Siberia, where I was spending 10 days with the amazing company of people and amazing nature. But every morning after morning meditation I sat down and took a lot of cups with hot water, poured it from one cup to another, brewed the tea with me counting the seconds instead of the timer and sending love to the tea and to the person who I was preparing it for. The tea tasteed amazingly well with the local water and the energy of it is intensified in this magical place. Which we needed to stay awake and meditate every single moment of the day. I loveed this place here. Every day I felt I was recharged more and more with the energy of this land and water. Back to the body. Back to my true self.

lera zujeva 30/06/2015 lera zujeva 30/06/2015

London Tea Events in July ’15

Another month is coming, the most summery month of the year, and another post on Tea Events in London is here! There are loads to choose from (20 tea related events so far in July), and this list will updates as and when the new events are created! Tea tours and walks, tea meditations and ceremonies, tea brewing masterclasses and many many more! 1. Wednesday, 1 July, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

2. Wednesday, 1 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20

Over the two hours, they will cover the diversity of the 6 tea families, tasting exemplar teas within each category. Kyle will explain how each of the teas are made and what sets each tea family apart. Lots of useful information!

3. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

4. Saturday, 4 July, at 16.00 in Warren Street - Coffee, Tea and Kisses with Kyle, FREE

Join Kyle from Tea Studio in a exploration of speciality teas. Learn about origins of teas and how they are made. We will explore a different tea every 15-20 minutes, pop in any time. The event takes place at London's only relationships cafe and an inclusive space to build all kinds of relationships, and to explore all aspects of them

6. Tuesday, 7 July at 17.30 in Buddha Bar - Japanese Tea Ceremony: Three-Course Meal & Two Cocktails, £45

Join Buddha Bar team as they explore the 15th century Samurai roots of the Japanese Tea Ceremony for the first time EVER in London. See how to wear a Kimono. Take in exclusive Japanese Tea Calligraphy. Find out why Green Tea is the new coffee. Sample Matcha, Sencha, Gyokuro amongst many more types of Tea. Indulge, as they spoil you with the exclusive new Buddha Special Menu

6. Fridays, 10 & 24 June and , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/

9. Sunday, 12 July, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £20 – NEARLY SOLD OUT!

Discover tea and dim sum in combination! With hundreds of aromas of Chinese tea to be exploring, Sam and Alex (Sinophiles/foodies/tea obsessives) would like to introduce the diversity of this delightful beverage by hosting their very own tea (not supper) club in the delights of our Streatham abode. Where London does brunch, Southern China does Dim Sum; a good selection of Chinese tea and small light dishes. PaoCha therefore, invites you their very own Chinese style brunch of copious amounts of tea ranging from TieGuanYin Oolong, to Pu’er, to Fuding’s best White tea, and a good filling of Chinese inspired food!

10. Sundays, 12 & 26 July, from 11-6pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the canal in Islington, £10.

This event brings together a passion for tea, poetry and beautiful origami all together as a beautiful package. It includes a personalised poem on an origami model by their professional poet together with a home baked cake and lovely afternoon tea will spoil your senses. Enjoy the landscape of hundreds of flying origami birds, floating boats and swans, and lovely flowers. Friendly and relaxed atmosphere with bird songs in the background. Add aroma to your origami with a scented paper…

11. Thursday, 14 July, at 14.00 in SE London - Tea Meditation with me, FREE

Tea meditation is a Mindfulness meditation. It is performed in noble silence with me gently and quietly guiding through it in the beginning. There will be an opportunity to talk before and after meditation, and small snacks will be provided afterwards. We rarely have time to just be with whatever is there, in the present moment. To just sit down, and be totally in the process of drinking tea. And when we do that, magic happens.

12. Thursday, 14 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Tea Brewing Masterclass with Tea Studio, £20

Learn (and taste) why its so important to brew tea correctly and the key points to doing this. During the masterclass you'll taste both badly (to show the difference) and expertly brewed teas as well as learning traditional and modern methods for brewing specialist teas. All of course with plenty of discussion and advice so you can make your tea brewing experience better every time.

13. Wednesday, 15 July, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in Notiing Hill. £25

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

14. Sunday, 19 June, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks really good! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.

16. Saturday, 25 July, at 11.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20

18. Thursday, 30 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Matcha Masterclass with Vivid Drinks, £24 - CANCELLED

During the event you will be guided through matcha samplings and learn all about the various matcha grades. Experts from Tea Studio and Vivid Drinks will give you an understanding of Matcha and its origions. Uncovering its history and how matcha is made. I will be there making some photos, so hopefully see you there!

lera zujeva 04/06/2015 lera zujeva 04/06/2015

London Tea Events in June '15

I decided to do a monthly post on Tea Events instead of a weekly one. The reason for this is that a lot of people need to plan in advance and sometimes, when a weekly post on tea events comes out, everyone has already planned something for that week. Of course, some events are created at short notice, however these events will be added to this list as and when they come up. So this post is not going to be static, rather, it will be alive and in a constant flow of change. Almost, like LIFE itself! :))) And if you can't find something for your heart as you read it now, come back to it in a week or two, there might be some new events added to it at a later date. 1. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Saturday, 6 June, at 11am - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in Docklands. £20

3. Sunday, 7 June, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £15 – NEARLY SOLD OUT!

4. Sunday, 7 June, at 4pm (and every Sunday) – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, DONATION, in RUSSIAN

This tea ceremony takes place every Sunday! Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. Each Sunday different teas will be tasted. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

5. EVERY Sunday, from 11-6pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the canal either in Victoria Park or Hackney Wick, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

SUNDAY 7th June 11am-6pm Pop in Victoria Park SUNDAY 14th June 11am-6pm Pop In Hackney Wick SUNDAY 21st June Father's Day 11am-6pm Hackney Wick SUNDAY 28th June 11am-6pm Hackney Wick

6. Fridays, 12 & 26 June and , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

10. Wednesday, 17 June, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in South Kensington. £20

11. Sunday, 21 June, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

lera zujeva 15/05/2015 lera zujeva 15/05/2015

Tea Events until the end of May'15

1. Saturday, 16 and 23 May, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: Shades of Green (16 May) and Blues (23 May), £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL! Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Sunday, 17 May, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks lovely! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.

3. Sunday, 17 May, at 4pm (and every Sunday) – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

This tea ceremony takes place every Sunday! Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Silver Needle white tea, Huo Shan Huang Ya Premium extra yellow tea, Lao Tie Guan Yin oolong tea and Tie Luo Han oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

4. Monday, 18 May, at 3pm - A Tea Odyssey at Asia House in Central London, £8 I will be there increasing my education in the world of Darjeeling teas!!!!!!

Tea fanatics abound, and its fans are fierce in their interest and loyalty to this very special variety of brewed beverage. Jeff Koehler tells the intriguing and spectacular story of Darjeeling, the world’s most celebrated tea. This is a tale of how Darjeeling developed its prodigious tea industry under Imperial British rule and eventually came to produce some of the highest-quality leaves in the world. It is a fascinating portrait of the region from the days of the Raj to that of the ‘voodoo farmers’ of the present day, who get world-record prices for their fine teas, all set against the backdrop of the looming Himalayas and drenching monsoons. Jeff Koehler, writer and cook, will launch his new book Darjeeling: A History of the World’s Greatest Tea at this event, which is supported by Ahmad Tea, whose distinguished teas will be enjoyed throughout.

5. Friday, 22 May, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

6. Thursday, 28 May at 19.00 in Notting Hill – Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington’s Tea Emporium. £20

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended, and tickets are selling out fast usually for this event! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

7. Saturday, 30 May at 2-4pm in Brixton - Summer Chinese Tea Ceremony + Qigong Session with Alex. £15

I would like to tell you a little bit about the host of this event, Alex. I have not met him in person yet (I am sure I will soon), but I met his girlfriend at Vipassana meditation retreat, and a friend and colleague of his. And what I heard about him is amazing. A young man, a traveller, an adventurer, a talented musician in a band called Gentle Mystics, a meditator and a qi gong practitioner - he is a free spirit, who has such an amazing energy that, no doubt, will be shared with your through tea.

What amazes me is that being relatively young and being also a part of the music industry, he doesn't drink alcohol or take drugs, but is fully dedicated to tea, meditation and qi gong/tai chi. I wish I was like this at his age…. So yes, a recommended event in Brixton that I am sure will be deep and transformative in many ways. It's limited to 6 people only, so booking in advance is highly recommended!

Hope to see you very soon on one of those wonderful events!!!!!!

lera zujeva 03/05/2015 lera zujeva 03/05/2015

Tea Events in London 4-10 May

Ten TEA events this week are taking place! Each day of the week something is happening, so if you are a true tea lover you will definitely find something to suit your taste and availability! Is it May that makes all these events to start happening? In any way, it's amazing to see tea culture thriving and having so many amazing and wonderful events on offer! 1. Monday, 4 May, at 8pm – Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall, £25

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Caroll's iconic novel the Tea House Theatre invites grown-ups to join the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Rabbit and a host of other characters for a dinner riddled with games, gambles and recitations.

The menu has been taken straight from the book and we promise you an exciting, entertaining evening from which no one will leave empty handed. And I am sure there will be a lot of TEA flowing too!

2. Tuesday, 5 May, at 7pm – Tea and Food Pairing, Shaftesbury Avenue, £25 - SOLD OUT! Next one on 2 June, so book early to avoid disappointment!

Start the evening with a tea infused Mocktail in the intimate Mee bar before tea guru Kyle guides you through 5 exciting tea and food pairings. Pairing exciting dishes from the menue with Noodle House teas and specially selected teas from Whittington's Tea Emporium's vast range, you will discover how tea enhances the flavour of dishes. With each pairing Kyle shows images and video clips of where the teas come from and how they are made. Lean about the masters who hand make these teas and just why Jasmine Pearls are so special! Then finish off the evening with a unique Tea Cocktail (or Mocktail if you prefer).

3. Wednesday, 6 May, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

That’s what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: “Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it’s roots from Dao and Zen Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it’s setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth.”

4. Friday, 8 May, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

5. Saturday, 9 May, at 10am – Black and Pu-erh– Teas from India, China and other areas, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

6. Sunday, 10 May, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

7. Sunday, 10 May, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £15 - NEARLY SOLD OUT!

8. Sunday, 10 May, at 4pm – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Silver Needle white tea, Baimudan white tea, Lao Tie Guan Yin oolong tea and Tie Luo Han oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

Big hug!

lera zujeva 26/04/2015 lera zujeva 26/04/2015

Tea Events in London 27 April- 3 May

Not so many tea events this week, but I am sure you will be in LOVE with the ones that are happening! 1. Thursday, 30 April, at 1pm - Tea Meditation with T-Lovers, South East London (Zone 1/2), FREE

For this meditation, which is a Mindfulness Meditation, we will be brewing tea in the Chinese tradition, and usually I am using special teas with special energy. It will probably be Puerh tea from wild growing trees that are 1,200 years old. Or a special tea called Enlightenment. In any way these kind of teas will make it easier to connect to ourselves and feel our own energy connecting with the energy tea and creating a special experience for us. Small snacks will be provided. I am so looking forward to sharing teas with you!

2. Saturday, 2 May, at 10am – Introduction to Tea – Teas from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

3. Sunday, 3 May, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

Big hug!

lera zujeva 20/04/2015 lera zujeva 20/04/2015

Tea Events this week in London 20-26 April

This week, again, is rich with tea events. It seems that sunshine awakens all the senses and people just want to explore and delve into the word aromas and subtle or strong tastes. I am in LOVE with this fact! 1. Wednesday, 22 April, at 18.30 - The Power of Oolong at ChinaLife in Camden, FREE

During this tea appreciation evening, guests will have the opportunity to hear about the health benefits of drinking oolong tea from tea master Don Mei. Participants will get the chance to sample a variety of oolongs to train the palette, from soft and floral to creamy, rich and roasted, in discovering a new appreciation of the humble tea leaf.

2. Saturday, 25 April, at 10am – The Blues – Oolong teas from Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

3. Sunday, 26 April, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

4. Sunday, 26 April, at 4pm – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Taipng Houkui, GABA oolong tea, Lapsang Souchong and Shu Puer teas. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

Big hug!

lera zujeva 12/04/2015 lera zujeva 12/04/2015

Tea Events this week in London 13-19 April

This week is abundant with tea events!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of new people, companies and tea lovers are doing tea related events, and you know what? It makes me really happy! I take it as a sign that tea culture is finally picking up and becoming popular. That proper tea is seen as a great way to spend time and tea is becoming a drink that people tend to choose as an alternative to coffee. My heart is expanding with joy! So here is a list of tea events this week for you! I am sure these is a tea event to suit any taste and any availability!

1. Saturday, 18 April, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - 3rd Saturday – Shades of Green – Green teas from Japan, Korea, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Saturday, 18 April, at 4pm - Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Shou Mei white tea, GABA oolong tea, GABA red tea and Ginseng oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

3. Sunday, 19 April, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, on Regents Canal not far from King's Cross, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Just pop in to Kings Cross, Granary Square, along Regent's Canal N1C 4AA

4. Sunday, 19 April, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

LOVE you all!!!!!!

lera zujeva 16/03/2015 lera zujeva 16/03/2015

Tea Events this week in London 16-22 March

There are lots of tea events in London this week, to suit any taste or language - from tea and cheese pairing, meditative tea ceremony with gongs to tea tasting tours and walks. Have a look! 1. Wednesday, 18 March, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting in Notting Hill (La Cave Fromage) led skilfully and passionately by Kyle, in ENGLISH, £20

I reviewed this event previously in one of my posts and now this is another opportunity for me to say how amazing this event is. Explosion of tastes and aromas will blow your mind, literally. Highly recommended!!!

2. Wednesday, 18 March, at 8pm - in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath, in ENGLISH, £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

That’s what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: “Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it’s roots from Dao, Zen and Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it’s setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth.”

3. Saturday, 21 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - The Blues – Oolong teas from Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

lera zujeva 08/03/2015 lera zujeva 08/03/2015

Tea Events this week in London 9-15 March

This week there are three amazing tea events for your choice!!! 1. Friday, 13 March, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum - Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2050&title=The%20Way%20of%20Tea&eventType=Demonstration

2. Saturday, 14 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - Shades of Green – Green teas from Japan, Korea, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/

3. Sunday, 15 March, at 2pm at We Make London Cafe, in Chalk Farm - Introduction to the Fine Tea World with Momo Cha Tea Company! It costs £30, but T-Lovers followers can still get the Early Bird discount and get the place for £24 (Just enter discount code: EARLYBIRDMARCH). Amazing Value!

I haven't been to any of Momo Cha's events, and haven't yet tried their teas. I am planning to attend their Tea Tasting on the 26 March though and write a blog post about it. But, from their website their teas seem to be really good (all green Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese) and we talked with Mojca on e-mail. I really liked our conversation and I am sure their event is going to be a real gem for all tea lovers!

This is what they write about their event:

"We'll guide you on an experiential journey through the fine teas of Japan, Taiwan and Korea. We will be brewing, tasting, appraising different types of tea, speak about tea history and learn about tea benefits.

Along with tea, we will be enjoying delicious handmade gluten-free snacks.

Each participant will also receive a lovely gift to take home.

You can book your tickets here: http://www.momochafineteas.com/tea-events/tea-tasting-class-15th-march-2015

I hope you enjoy your tea activities this week!

lera zujeva 23/02/2015 lera zujeva 23/02/2015

Tea Events this week 23 Feb - 1 March 15

This week there are just a couple events related to tea. It seems it has quietened down in the last week of February. But T-Lovers and Whittington's Tea Emporium remain active! :) 1. Tuesday, 24 February at 6.30pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington's Tea Emporium in Greenwich, £20

2. And if you are in Birmingham this Saturday, the usual Tea Club, run by an amazing soul Nick at the Buddhist Centre, takes place at 11am, donation basis. Nick is moving to London soon, so this tea club is not going to happen very often from now on, so this is a good opportunity to take part in the tea meditation with Nick while it's still there. :)

Hope to see you there!!!

lera zujeva 25/01/2015 lera zujeva 25/01/2015

Tea Events This Week in LondonЧайные Мероприятия на Этой Неделе в Лондоне

Tea Events for this week! There are quite a few good ones this week, so don't miss your chance and join them if you can!

1. Tuesday, 27 January at 18.30 in Greenwich - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington's Tea Emporium. £20

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure... Only two places left, so if you would like to join them this month, do not hesitate any longer!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1

2. Thursday, 29 January, at 19.30 in Central London, just off Regent street - Matcha Masterclass with Lalani! It costs £35, but you take home with you the whole jar of Lalani's Matcha Gold Dust, which they sell for £29. Amazing Value!

I will be there making photographs for my blog post, and it would be really great see you there too!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2

3. Friday, 25 January, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum - Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255

4. Sunday, 1 February, at 19.00 in Covent Garden - Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

That's what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: "Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it's roots from Dao, Zen and Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it's setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth."

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/

5. Sunday, 1 February, ALL DAY in Birmingham - Day Retreat: Meditation & the Way of Tea. DONATION BASIS

If by any chance you are in Birmingham this weekend, there is an amazing all day tea and meditation event, which is worth coming to especially, even if you are not living there!!!

Come for a nice, relaxing day drinking Tea in relaxing Tea Ceremonies, meditating and sharing lunch together . . . Please book with Birmingham Buddhist Centre on 0121 449 5279. The day is on a donation basis.

http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/Чайные Мероприятия в Лондоне на этой неделе для вас!

На этой неделе происходят несколько прекрасных чайных мероприятий, поэтому если вы любите чай, этот пост будет вам очень интересен!

1. Вторник, 27 Января в 18.30 в Гринвиче - Чайной Сырная Дегустация с Whittington's Tea Emporium. £20

Я сходила на это мероприятие в Ноябре, и хочу сказать, что при воспоминании о взрыве вкусовых ощущений на моем языке я до сих почти падаю в обморок. И я не шучу. Это просто настоящий улет во всех смыслах! У них осталось всего два места на вторник!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1

2. Четверг, 29 Января, в 19.30 в Центральном Лондоне, офф Риджентс Стрит - Мастеркласс по Матче с Lalani! Он стоит £35, но после него вы с собой заберете домой баночку матчи от Лалани, которую они продают за £29. По моему, это просто даром!

Я буду там делать фотографии для своего блога (и тоже познавать нюансы того, как правильно готовить матчу), поэтому будет просто супер круто, если кто нибудь из моих друзей туда тоже придет!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2

3. Пятница, 25 Января, в 14.00 и 15.00 в British Museum - Демонстрация Японской Чайной Церемонии Urasenke Институтом. БЕСПЛАТНО.

Примерно два года назад я написала блог пост о своем опыте на этой демонстрации, который объяснит, о чем она: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/?lang=ru

Детали мероприятия ЗДЕСЬ: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255

4. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, в 19.00 в Covent Garden - Чайная Церемония и Гонги. £18 Моя любимейшая чайная фея Kat Bambul проведет вас в очередное волшебное путешествие в страну чая и незабываемых звуков гонга. И это путешествие просто нельзя пропустить!

Вот что она сама пишет о чайной церемонии в описании своего мероприятия: "Gong Fu Чайная церемония это прекрасный и медитативный ритуал приготовления и употребления чая, который берет свои корни из традиций Дао, Дзен и Буддизма, где чай считают духовным напитком. Мы будем пить чай с древних деревьев, которым позволяют расти естественным образом в соответствии с дикой природой, которые богаты веществами, воздействующими на наше сознание и наше тело. Чай высокого качества приводит нас в медитативное состояние, где мы пребываем в философском и творческом настрое, состоянии поной удовлетворенности, свободы и открыты мистическому. Во время церемонии мы ценим красоту состояния здесь и сейчас, наслаждаемся всеми нашими чувствами и ощущаем чай, все, что окружает церемонию, нас самих и нашу связь с природой. Мы соединяемся с чайным духом, и позволяем себе течь в безвременном пространстве между небом и землей"

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/

5. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, ВЕСЬ ДЕНЬ в Бирмингеме - Однодневный Ретрит: Медитация & Путь Чая. Оплата по принципу DONATION.

На самом деле, это то мероприятие, которое стоит посетить, даже если вы не живете в Бирмингеме. Оно стоит того, чтобы специально туда приехать. Ник, который будет проводить этот медитационно чайный ретрит уникальная личность. Рядом с ним наступает полный Дзен. И я вам обещаю, вы вернетесь домой с ощущением, как будто вы пробыли неделю в небольшом монастыре на склоне холмов в Японии.

Регистрация по телефону 0121 449 5279.

http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/

Надеюсь, вам удастся попасть на какие нибудь из этих волшебных и познавательных мероприятий, и насладится чаем во всей его красе!

lera zujeva 19/01/2015 lera zujeva 19/01/2015

Tea Events in London this week

There is only one tea event this week for you, but it's amazing and you should go! 1. This Wednesday, 21 Jan, at 8pm - Tea Ceremony and a Gong Bath afterwards in the heart of Covent Garden at Buddha on the Bicycle.

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/219695039/

Again, Kat Bambul is going to be an amazing host, guiding you into a meditative state with the amazing teas and then through a gong journey.

lera zujeva 13/01/2015 lera zujeva 13/01/2015

Tea Events this week in London

Do you love TEA? Then these events for this week are just for you! 1. Tuesday, 13 Jan, at 7pm - Tea and Food Pairing at Noodle House in Piccadilly. Explore which teas go best with the dishes as Kyle skilfully takes you through five combinations. Book your tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-food-pairing-at-the-noodl…

2. Sunday, 18 Jan, at 15.45 - there seems to be an interesting event if you are single, which involves a restorative yoga class & meditation, followed by Chakra Tea Tasting with Ellie Wharton from Positivitea as she guides you through the art of supporting your chakras through special tea blends. More info and booking here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/singles-mingle-yoga-chakra-te…

lera zujeva 15/12/2014 lera zujeva 15/12/2014

Tea Events until NYE

Friends! It's an International Day of TEA today! I hoping you are having lots of tea today to celebrate this occasion! To mark this Tea day, I decided to make a list of tea related events that take place in London till New Year. Please feel free to add the events that you know about in the comments to this post!

1. This Sunday, 21 December, from 1 ill 4pm, an amaziпng Tea Shop The Chinese Tea Company in Portobello, is hosting a FREE Tea Tasting event. Booking in ADVANCE is required, as the shop is very small, and very cosy. Booking can be done by phone 020 8960 0096 or by e-mail: info@the-chinese-tea-company.com

I went with Juyan, the owner of the shop, on a Tea Tour to China, and saw, which farmers she gets her teas from. Most of the tea plantations are very small, family owned. With tea being plucked by hand, and processed by and in most case too! Hсighly Recommended!

2. This Sunday evening, at 7pm, in Covent Garden, to celebrate Winter Solstice, there is an amazing tea event: tea ceremony, followed by a gong bath.

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-…/…/219048267/ Amazing Kat Bumbul, who is truly a magical forest fairy, has an ability to charge people with beautiful energy, both with tea and with her gongs. It will be a magical event!

3. Also, if you live in Birmingham, or by some strange chance will discover yourself in beautiful city one day, and will feel like drinking tea, every Saturday, at 11am, Living Tea - UK is hosting a meditative Tea Club in a Buddhist Centre there.

And if you are in London, and feeling like discovering, what Tea and Cheese combination tastes like, there are Tea and Cheese events happening every month. But tickets are selling out fast, so reserve your place by booking here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/whittingtons-tea-emporium-597…

I hope that you will find this list helpful and informative!

lera zujeva 22/08/2014 lera zujeva 22/08/2014

Tea accessories for Chaxi from natureЧайная аттрибутика от природы

Sometimes to set up a table for a tea ceremony we can use simple things. They can be found in nature, all around us actually. We just need to open our eyes, and heart.. Today I was passing by a sawmill, and decided to investigate inside. I was looking at these huge pine trunks lying there and thought that I would like a small round peace of wood for my hot kettle. Then I saw a man, who greeted me and asked me if I need any help. And I explained the whole idea of the round stand for the hot kettle. He straight away called his colleague, they brought an electric saw, and made me a couple of round kettle stands. Which I carried lovingly to my home. They just need to be polished now and can be used in tea ceremonies and meditations!Каждый раз отвозя своего Сашку в бассейн, я проезжаю мимо местной лесопилки. Дорога пролегает вдоль железной дороги, и лесопилка находится там, рядом с приемом металлолома. Туда частенько наведываются интересные кадры с разными металлическими предметами в руках. И вот мне пришла в голову идея попросить мужиков на лесопилке отпилить мне кусочек соснового бревна. Под горячий чайник. Для чайных церемоний и медитаций. Кусочек литовского леса в Лондонском пространстве.

И сегодня после проливного дождя я сначала съездила в банк за новой карточкой - самое интересное, что я пришла, никого не было, а когда закончили с девушкой общаться, ждали 20 человек! Я это отметила, так как всегда отмечаю с благодарностью такие вещи, ведь мне не пришлось ждать вообще.

А потом я направилась в эту лесопилку, нашла приветливого мужичка, и озвучила свою просьбу. Мужичок откликнулся на нее и как по мановению волшебной палочки тут же появился его коллега с бензопилой. Вообщем, круглые кусочки сосны "под горячий чайник" отправятся со мной в Лондон!

- Сколько с меня? - спросила я приветливого мужичка в зеленой кепке. - Ничего не надо, - ответил он, -приходите еще! И такой широкой и теплой улыбкой улыбнулся мне, что сразу так же тепло на душе стало.

Я опять отметила галочкой благодарности это событие..

Волшебство, оно повсюду, и люди, готовые помочь и отозваться на необычные просьбы! Надо только научиться это видеть, и замечать. :)

lera zujeva 14/08/2014 lera zujeva 14/08/2014

Facing irritationsСмотря в лицо своим раздражителям

After vipassana I realised that I no longer avoid irritating situations. Not that I am searching for them intentionally. No. Rather taking the opportunity to embrace and face them. For example today I came to take a ferry just to find out there is no ferry at this time so had to wait for 30 minutes more. I saw a bench in a shade and it looked really appealing, but there was a young guy sitting on it eating sunflower seeds really loudly and also listening to the music on the phone. At any other point in my life I would have chosen another place to sit, because phone music usually irritates me. But now I thought, let's work on my reactions, here is a good opportunity. I sat down. And with the sound of the telephone music I started feeling a subtle irritation in my stomach. Great, I thought, let's see how long it lasts. Because of my awareness, it didn't develop into a strong irritation, but... Something changed instead. I started liking the music coming out from the phone, and suddenly noticed a bright green beacon in the water, looking really nicely. And red wheels in the shipbuilding yard looking amazing on bright blue sky. The whole scene transformed, became magical, almost like from 3D movie. By becoming present and not reacting the energy was taken away from the mind and given back to the flow of life... I know that this situation is very small and mundane but life is made up if these small everyday mundane things that we are reacting to all the time...

Thank you, young stranger with sunflower seeds and a telephone for giving me this gentle opportunity to work on my blind reactions... I could only make a picture of his back! :))))

После Выпассаны я поняла, что больше не избегаю раздражителей в своей жизни. Не то, чтобы я специально ищу их, нет! Но просто когда вдруг появляется выбор избежать раздражитель или повернуться к нему лицом и проработать свое раздражение, я в последнее время выбираю второе.

Например, вчера, возвращаясь с моря, я ехала на велосипеде очень быстро, для того, чтобы успеть к парому. Но оказалось, что в это время парома нет и нужно ждать еще минут 30. В поиске прохладного местечка я увидела скамейку, на которой сидел молодой парень. Скамейка манила к себе, так как она была единственная в тени. Но парень громко лузгал семечки и слушал музыку на телефоне, тоже достаточно громко. А меня обычно музыка из телефонов раздражает. Ну, это просто мой крючок такой. И обычно, я бы в такой ситуации поискала бы другое место, потише. Но на санном этапе своей жизни я подумала: "О, классно, отличная возможность поработать над собой!".

Я присела на скамейку. Прислушалась к себе, к нарастающему раздражению в районе живота. Стала за ним наблюдать. Интересно, как долго оно продлится? Под светом моего наблюдения, моего сознания, раздражение быстро потухло, так и не развив свою силу и мощь. А в настоящем моменте что-то поменялось. Мне вдруг стала нравиться музыка, которая шла из телефона этого парня, она вдруг начала подходить под панораму залива, которая открывалась передо мной. Я заметила очень красивый ярко-зеленый маяк, плавающий на воде, и красные катушки с судостроительного завода, которые очень круто смотрелись на фоне синего летнего неба. И вообще, вдруг все поменялось вокруг, как будто в 3Д фильме. Стало ярче, интереснее, объемнее. Появилось чувство комфорта и уюта. Но парень в этот момент выключил телефон, выкинул шелуху от семечек в мусорку и ушел. А мне даже как-то жалко было что он ушел. Но я постаралась не цепляться, а просто наблюдать.

Вот как это происходит. Когда мы возвращаемся в настоящий момент и не реагируем на раздражители, то мы забираем энергию от ума и отдаем ее потоку жизни. А это трансформирует все вокруг. Я знаю, что эта ситуация очень маленькая и простая, но наша жизнь состоит из таких вот как раз маленьких и обычных ситуаций. И не реагируя на маленькие раздражители мы тренируем наш ум не реагировать на большие в будущем.

Спасибо тебе, молодой лузгальщик семечек с телефоном, за этот мягкий урок в осознанности! Я сфотографировала его спину, так как обойти скамейку и нагло сфотографировать его всего не хватило смелости… :)

lera zujeva 20/04/2014 lera zujeva 20/04/2014

Aged black tea connects you to cosmosВыдержанный черный чай соединяет с космосом

This Easter Sunday was extremely rainy in London. Initially planned trip to a famous cemetery got cancelled - I couldn't bear the thought of walking amongst the graveyards under all this water falling from the sky. The cemetery I was planning to visit has a grave of an Englishman, who in the 19th century got famous for his mission to steal Chinese tea. His mission was successful, and tea plants were brought to India. I would like to create a tour around this cemetery, and then have a tea ceremony on the grave of that man. Or may be in a pavilion next to it. Anyway, it looks too empty and simple, and nothing indicates that he made such an impact on the tea industry. And that Darjeeling was born because of him in a way too.

Do you think this tour sounds too strange? English cemeteries are so beautiful, they are almost like parks, with hidden corners and cosy spaces.. It could be an ideal place for such a walk..

Anyway, I stayed at home. This weather made me too relaxed and unfocused.. All I could do is do nothing and lie on the sofa. That's it. Oh no, and drink tea of course. I cannot imagine even one day to go by without tea. We grew into each other, became one. I hope, forever, even though I don't like to throw such big words into the air.

And today I took out of my secret box an old, aged Hunnan black tea from the 90s. Don't mix black tea with what they drink in England (and not only). They call it black tea, but in effect it's red tea in chinese terminology. And in China they have red tea and also black tea. Black tea contains the best of both worlds - Red and Puerh teas. It's fully oxidised (like red) and also fermented (like Puerh). This tea was sent to me by Guitian Lee from US. She is a deep tea meditator, and has amazing tea.

I lit the candles, put on a calm relaxing music, and brewed this tea slowly… It was unbelievable. It held 15 brews, or may be even more. And we felt almost like we were connected to the outer space. Cosmos. Universe. Something bigger than us. Beyond us. Well, I am quite sensitive to tea. And coffee. And people around me. What I discovered is that the same tea and coffee can affect you differently. The effect depends a lot on your own inner state and also on the state of people around you. And may be on the state and mood of the person who brewed it for you (remember -water absorbs the energy and changes from it!) Sometimes I drink tea (and coffee) and I don't feel anything. Another time I drink the same drink but I am more aware, or may be in a good mood, and I drink it in a company of like-minded people - and then something happens. Clicks. The world around me changes. And I go flying into outer space feeling connected to everything and everyone. This was exactly what happened this time too. Beautiful experience…

Black tea in China is not so widespread and popular. Chinese still prefer and drink green tea. But slowly and slowly black tea is produced more and more, but still it stays mainly in China, as Chinese buy it for their own use. This tea is one of the most "tortured" during its processing stage - after it's been oxidised, it is then fermented for a long time. After which it is pressed into bricks or cakes and put into bamboo containers.

I love black tea, and it's one of my favourites at the moment. This tea is for slow and patient drinking. It brings sun into a rainy day, and cools you down when it's too hot. Next time I will brew Hunnan tea on a roof during one of my tea walks in London!В это пасхальное воскресенье в Лондоне целый день шел дождь. А у меня было запланировано путешествие на одно знаменитое кладбище, где похоронен безбашенный англичанин. Он прославился в 19ом веке тем, что украл у китайцев чай. И посадил его в Индии. Я хочу по этому кладбищу сделать тур с чаепитием на его могиле. Ну или не на могиле, а в беседке поблизости. Тем более, что его могила проста и пуста, и никто и не догадывается, что там похоронен человек, благодаря которому появился Дарджилинг, например.

Скажите, по вашему мнению, это звучит интересно? Или всё-таки немного кощунственно?

Но конечно в такой дождь я никуда не поехала. Погода размазывала по квартире, по дивану, притупляла ум. Хотелось ничего не делать. Только сидеть или лежать. Ну и ещё пить чай. А как же без него? Я не могу ни дня своей жизни представить без чая. Честно. Мы срослись, крепко, и похоже, уже навсегда.

Так и сегодня, я вытащила из недр своих чайных запасов выдержанный хунаньский черный чай 90х годов (не путайте с черным чаем, который мы пьем повсеместно в Англии - это на самом деле красный чай! А в Китае есть ещё один - черный!!). Этот чай мне прислала китаянка из Америки, как образец, и вот он дождался своего часа. Я зажгла свечи, включила тихую музыку… Заварила чай. Он был великолепен. Выдержал 15 заварок, а то и больше. И привел нас в такое состояние, мммм, даже не знаю как описать. Как будто произошла связь с космосом… Так наверное. Ну я вообще чувствительная на чай. И на кофе. И на компании людей. Иногда один и тот же чай и кофе никак не действует. А в другой раз, когда я в правильном состоянии, осознанна, в компании людей-единомышленников, как будто происходит щелчок, всё меняется, и чай начинают действовать по-другому. Соединяет с космосом. Чем больше пью чай, тем чаще это происходит. Так и в этот раз.

Черный чай - не очень распространен. Его редко где можно купить. Даже в Китае о нем не все знают. Этот чай в процессе обработки "мучают" больше всех - и окисляют всякими методами, и ферментируют долгое время, как Пуэр. То есть он соединяет в себе лучшее от красных чаев и Пуэров. А потом его прессуют, и упаковывают в бамбуковые корзины. Кстати, большинство этих чаев так и остаются в Китае. Китайцы, которые знают в толк в чае, сами его покупают и пьют.

Я люблю черный чай. В последнее время пью его много, и он прочно засел в категории моих любимых. Он для медленного, неторопливого чаепития. Дождливый день он сделает солнечным, а в жаркую погоду освежит. В следующую прогулку обязательно заварю именно его на крыше!