This Magic Monday, take a minute to sit, relax and enjoy a calming cup of tea.
Sometimes, it can be hard to remember that, unlike the Energizer Bunny, we really aren’t meant to “keep going” constantly. Taking even a moment to pause, breathe and appreciate what’s around us can feel like the hardest thing to do, and yet, it is often exactly what we need.
So, it may not come as a surprise that the most consumed beverage in the world after water is tea. Although many teas contain caffeine, the beverage still evokes images and feelings of calm.
A few thoughts to “steep on” when it comes to tea:
1. It’s important to be still for a few minutes.
As tea leaves interact with the water, flavor compounds from the leaves are extracted. But stirring or “agitating” the tea too much during this process can lead to a more bitter flavor. A few minutes of silence can produce the ideal result.
2. Sometimes, the second time around is even better.
Tea experts will tell you that you can steep many teas multiple times – and sometimes they even taste better after the second or even third infusion! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. The outcome may turn out even better than you expected.
3. Timing and temperature matter.
The type of tea you have – black, green, herbal infusion, and so on – typically determines the ideal steep method, including water temperature and infusion time. Although for some, perhaps “it’s all just tea.” But, there remains an opportunity to elicit each one’s unique potential with correctly applied tools and processes.
Take a few minutes to simply pause at some point this week. Sit still, give something a second try, appreciate your own unique qualities … and perhaps even enjoy a cup of tea.