About two months ago, my book Tea-spiration became available as an audiobook. The voice behind the audiobook does a phenomenal job at enhancing the listener’s tea experience just how I envisioned the physical book to do for readers. The individual behind the voice for Tea-spiration is performing artist Emiko Susilo. Emiko was easily selected as the narrator not only because of her talent and incredibly soothing voice (if you listened to my audiobook, you understand!) but also because of her own history with tea. At the tea table, we connected further by discussing how tea plays a key role in both of her cultures, her loving tea moments with her late father, tea ‘rules’ in Bali and much more.
The kettle is on and I can hear it about to sing. What tea are you going to steep for us today?
I’m in Bali at the moment, so I would definitely be steeping an Indonesian Jasmine tea! If you wanted a real Indonesian experience, I’d sweeten it and serve it to you hot with some simple snacks.
I would most certainly go for that real Indonesian tea experience! Tell me how tea has played a role in your life from day one.
My father was Javanese (as in Java Coffee, but also Javanese Tea) and my mom is Japanese American. Tea plays an important role in both cultures, though I am more familiar with my Indonesian/Javanese tea culture than my Japanese one (something I hope to remedy one day).
When I was 8 years old, I spent 6 months in Yogyakarta. My family lives close to the Kraton (Palace) of Yogyakarta and prides itself in its connection to Yogyanese culture. Part of that is refinement, hospitality, and a deep connection to the arts and the history of Yogya’s Sultans.
When I was there, I saw that every time we had a guest, my family prepared tea very carefully. There was care taken in how the water was boiled (wood fire) and how the tea was prepared (steeped) and served (sweetened, with snacks, in china). There was care in how it was accepted by guests (NEVER drink before your host invites you to…and not the first time they invite you to…wait until the 3rd time and THEN, wait until they make the first gesture toward the refreshments).
I am a dancer trained in the beautiful traditions of Balinese and Javanese dance, and I have always loved beautiful, formal structure. I love when care is given to human relationships and how we welcome one another into our homes. I loved to see this, and when I returned to the United States I found myself enjoying making tea for my mom’s guests when they would come to the house.
I learned later about the traditions of tea in Japan and from there began to LOVE the ceramic wear that is used for tea. I enjoy the feeling of handmade ceramic wear, I enjoy the tradition of admiring every aspect of the sharing of tea. I began to follow my Japanese aunties into the kitchen when I knew they would be making tea for my family. When I would look curiously into the tea pot, they would understand my cue and begin to tell me in loving detail how exactly to prepare the water (not too hot) and would gingerly and lovingly go about the tea preparation chatting away.
Now when I am in Bali, I am back in a place where serving tea (and coffee) are a big part of proper hospitality. There are even more guidelines for how to serve refreshments, depending on whether the situation is formal, informal, public, intimate, between close friends or between people with a more formal relationship. It was initially overwhelming to try to understand all the ‘rules’, but I’ve come to find it fascinating from an anthropological perspective and beautifully communicative. Being served a certain way can communicate “I respect you” or “We are close. We don’t need formalities.”
Tea-spiration is all about noticing and appreciating the big and small moments with tea. What would you say is your favourite tea moment?
The most poignant moment of sharing tea for me was on the last morning of my father’s life. He was at home and in hospice care. All of the kids and grandkids had come to be with him in his last days. That morning, he was very alert and feeling quite comfortable. He could talk quietly with us. I remembered how much he loved sweet Jasmine tea and how frustrated he had been in the hospital being limited to ice chips. The joy of hospice was he could eat and drink what he wanted.
I remember tears rolling down my cheeks as I stood at the stove heating the small kettle of water, measuring out the sugar carefully and placing a drop of his tea on my hand to taste before I served it to him. I knew it was going to be the last time I would make him tea.
I remembered the times he had placed a hot cup of tea in front of me and then settled in across the table for a chat. He always seemed so happy in those moments and I felt so loved.
I will never forget us sitting around his bed, sharing our last morning tea together. It was a gift, truly a gift, to share that time together.
Those beautiful tea memories with your dad are certainly ones to hold on to forever. Thank you for pouring your heart out and sharing that special tea moment.
<3
What are the top 3 teas we would find in your collection today?
Jasmine tea from Indonesia – A black tea and very fragrant. I try to be good and drink it without sugar, but sometimes I just go for it and go Indonesian.
Genmaicha – My Japanese side. I love how clean this feels and the complex flavors.
Mugi Cha – SO refreshing. I have spent very little time in Japan in my life, but one of my best tea memories is drinking very cold mugi cha on a crazy hot Japanese summer day. It was like a drink from heaven.
Red Rice Tea from Tabanan, Bali – Okay, I know I’m cheating because 1) this is 4 teas and 2) there are no leaves in this tea. It is a roasted red rice from West Bali. Ah-Mazing! It is naturally sweet, fragrant, and a gorgeous red color.
Last time we spoke you mentioned you had the pleasure of making tea for your teacher and husband’s family. So, let’s reenact that.
Ah…This would happen at a rehearsal. My teacher would have come in and hopefully we are all there before he arrives. We sit and chat for a few minutes. I’ve now trained our younger dancers and my daughter to do this, but I still LOVE this process.
Some of our teachers cannot drink regular tea, but just in front of our rehearsal space is a soursop tree. After chatting for a bit I would make sure that someone else is there to continue hosting, then I walk about 10 feet over to the soursop tree and select 5, 7 or 9 of the most beautiful leaves off the tree.
I take them to the kitchen, rinse them off and then put them in a pot with cold water.
Boil up the water, then turn it down to a simmer.
Then let it sit.
The process takes a good 15-20 minutes, but rehearsals for on for 2-3 hours.
As I’m waiting I pull out a clear glass teacup and saucer (must have saucer for the teacher’s tea!). Arrange some snacks on a small plate and put them on a tray. Once the tea has a nice brown color, I pour it into the teacup. It would have cooled and will be the perfect drinking temperature for a cool rehearsal night.
We take the tray out to our teacher and place it before him. He would be seated on the floor, so we have to walk slowly and politely as we approach. Then we would say (in Balinese) “Please excuse me. Forgive the humbleness of what we can offer.”
To which then he would say “Oh my, you went through so much trouble. I’m sorry.”
“It’s so little we can give you”
“Thank you”
The conversation will continue for a while, and my husband or I will keep track and make sure to invite him to drink. Once, and then a second time. Finally, I’ll move the tea ever so slightly toward him encouraging him to take the cup.
There’s nothing like the feeling of watching your teacher drink the tea you made. Our teachers give to us so generously, it is such a humble gift we can give back, and it is a beautiful thing to sit, be chatting with a master artist and see him (or her) drink something we made, not only with our hands, but with our hearts.
Speed Round:
Black, Green, Yellow, White, Oolong or Puerh?
BLACK!
Hot, Iced or Cold?
ICED!
Teapot, Infuser or Gaiwan?
TEAPOT!
Straight, Sweetened or Latte?
Straight (but actually I really want latte and sweetened)
Cheese or Chocolate pairing?
Both? Is that a legit answer?
Choose one person, living or passed, celebrity or family, that you would like to have tea with.
My mom, because we are always too busy to sit down and have a cup of tea and just relax.
My dad, because I miss him.
Find Emiko Susilo:
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Tea tells stories and when connected with humans, more are created. That’s where the idea for this blog series, At the Tea Table, originated. With this series, The Cup of Life asks tea lovers around the world to take us inside their tea lives to share their favourite steeps, spaces, routines and more. Meet some of your fellow tea drinkers here.
What an interesting and heart felt at the tea table. Very interesting to hear about other cultures and how they prepare tea. I listened to the audio book and loved it. What a great voice and story teller.