Tea Meditation for Beginners

There’s no time to meditate. My brain is too busy. I don’t even know how to meditate. These are valid feelings that usually follow when meditation is recommended. However, these feelings reaffirm that meditation truly is needed. There can be time to meditate and, truthfully, many tea drinkers are most likely doing so without even realizing it. Tea is often praised for various health benefits. While I don’t drink tea for health reasons, I do believe there are emotional benefits when just taking a few moments to make and savour your tea. Over the years I have continued to prepare a cup of tea in a way that also has me practicing meditation. Tea meditation has quickly become my favourite form. Learn how to meditate while enjoying your cup of tea!

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a practice that trains the mind, similar to how working out trains the body. The goal behind meditating is not to turn off your mind, but instead to better understand it. This can be done by achieving mindfulness, which is the ability to be fully engaged in the present moment. It’s called a practice because it takes consistent practice to learn how to meditate and be comfortable with the skill.

What is Tea Meditation, though?

Tea meditation is more than just making a cup and putting on a meditation guide while drinking it. The entire process of making tea can be treated as a meditation itself. It begins from that moment you select a cup to use and ends when you finish up the last sip of tea.

If you are interested in meditating but have yet to try or have trouble doing so, tea meditation may be the answer for you. Personally, meditation isn’t always easy for me. I find it is easier for me to observe my inner thoughts and feelings in peace when I have tea to focus on.

Best Tea For Meditation

I firmly believe any tea can be the best tea for meditation. Instead of focusing on finding the “right” tea for this, just mindfully pick one of your favourites. You won’t have a great tea meditation experience if you don’t even enjoy the tea. I will say though that I tend to prefer teas with bigger leaves, particularly rolled oolongs, as watching the leaves dance and unfurl in the water enhances this peaceful experience. My second favourite tea to use is matcha, as preparing it the traditional way is an art form itself.

Loose Leaf Tea or Tea Bags for Meditation?

I would recommend loose tea used here because it is the perfect opportunity to focus on your tea leaves dancing in the water, expanding and extracting full flavour, colour and aroma. However, if loose leaf tea is not accessible, tea bags will definitely still work.

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Tea Meditation Step-by-Step Guide

Practicing tea meditation can be done at any time of the day and can last however long you’d like. Don’t let the thought of an hour long session scare you away from trying. Tea meditation can also be as short as 10 minutes. To guide you and help you get started, follow the 8 simple steps below.

Step 1:

Select a vessel for your tea. Which one calls to you in this moment? Is it a fancy, vintage teacup? Is it a small tasting cup that matches your gaiwan? Or, is it a big mug that a loved one gifted to you? Open the cupboard or reach out to the shelf and grab the first one that jumps out at you.

Step 2:

Pick the tea you wish to steep. Any tea may be used, it just depends on your current preference. Do you feel like something bold, something lighter or something sweet? Try not to overthink what tea you should pick out and steep. Try to select the first one that comes to mind, as that may be the one you’re truly feeling like.

Step 3:

Grab your tea kettle and pour fresh water in it. Allow your kettle to be brought to a light boil. As you wait for the water to boil, find a quiet place to sit and practice a short breathing meditation. Make sure you’re sitting comfortably. Place one hand above your chest and the other on your stomach. With your eyes closed, listen to the faint whistles of your kettle.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Observe your breathing until it is time to turn the kettle off.

Step 4:

Depending on the type of tea, since you’re technically not supposed to use boiled water on every tea, rest with the kettle to let the water cool for a bit. Close your eyes again and use this time to cool your mind as well.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Feel the steam from the kettle around you.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Notice which parts of your body feels relaxed or tense, light or heavy.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Step 5:

With your full attention, place the tea leaves or tea bags into your vessel. Pour the heated water over your tea. Listen to the stream as it hits the leaves to begin the steeping process. While you allow it to steep for the duration recommended sit beside your cup and simply follow your breath, noticing where you are in this exact moment. Pause and observe the steam that is flowing from your cup of tea.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Pause and observe the tea leaves releasing their flavour into the warm water. Notice the change in colour, the movement and expansion of the tea leaves.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Give thanks for the cup of tea that is in front of you right now. Think about the workers who harvested and processed the leaves to get it to where you are now.

Step 6:

Acknowledge your senses. When the tea is done steeping, listen closely to the tea pouring into your cup or the tea trickling down in your cup as you remove your infuser.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Using both hands, hold the cup and draw it to under your nose to inhale the present aroma. Close your eyes. What do you notice? Let the smell, sounds and heat sensations take you back to a wonderful moment or create a new one in your mind.

Step 7:

Slowly bring the cup to your lips and take that first sip. Focus on your breathing and the sensations from the tea in your mouth and body.

Inhale.
Exhale.

Continue to enjoy the tea, sip by sip, savouring each one while bringing your mind back into your body. Try spending 30 seconds between each sip to just sit, letting your mind simply be.

Step 8:

When you are down to your last sip of tea, allow yourself to become more aware of your surroundings. Feel where you are seated, listen to other faint noises, and slowly open your eyes. End your tea meditation by giving thanks to yourself for this mindful tea moment.

The process of this meditation is nothing more than letting yourself concentrate on one thing at a time. In this case, it’s a good cup of tea.

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Do you find peace within your tea leaves? Share in the comments below!