After the summer solstice, the heat is unbearable; the sultry weather seems to steam-cook a person. Stepping out of the house requires great courage, while staying comfortably at home or in a quiet office, savoring a fragrant cup of tea in an air-conditioned room, allows one to feel the ease and tranquility of life.
In today's life, elements of tea are everywhere. Whether it's at roadside beverage shops, supermarket shelves brimming with choices, or restaurants and elegant teahouses with varying atmospheres, the presence of tea is ubiquitous. As tea becomes increasingly popular, more and more people begin to understand tea and fall deeply in love with it. However, among those who drink tea, how many can truly be called “tea lovers”? Let us compare the various traits of “tea lovers” and see how many apply to you.
“I would rather go without three meals than a day without tea,” this is the steadfast principle of many tea lovers. For them, tea is not just a beverage but an indispensable part of life. A day without Drinking Tea might not collapse one's life, but the indescribable discomfort and sense of loss will follow like a shadow. Imagine waking up in the morning, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains onto the table, brewing a steaming cup of tea at that moment, gently smelling the rising aroma, sipping the warm and mellow tea, feeling the tea's essence spread throughout every cell of your body – this is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful moments in life. This wonderful experience is a daily necessity and a comfort for the soul for tea lovers.
Another prominent trait of tea lovers is that they always have tea on hand. No matter where they are, whether traveling in unfamiliar cities, on long journeys, or during intense project work, they always find ways to brew a cup of their favorite tea. To them, good tea is like a loyal companion, always by their side. Even in limited environments, they can rely on their love and dedication to tea to find a moment of peace and satisfaction. For example, on a train's hard seat, they cleverly use thermoses and simple tea utensils to brew a heartwarming cup of tea, dispelling the fatigue of travel; in a hotel room during a business trip, even with only a simple cup, they can use their familiarity and skill with tea to brew a decent cup of tea.
Brewing tea is a rigorous art for tea lovers. They have almost strict requirements for the selection of tea utensils, water temperature control, and brewing steps. Because they know that even subtle differences can result in vastly different flavors of tea. Different types of tea have unique characteristics, so appropriate brewing tools and techniques are required. For those who casually brew tea and haphazardly add leaves, such actions are akin to wasting precious tea in the eyes of tea lovers. For example, when brewing tender green tea, they carefully select transparent glass cups, using water around 80 degrees Celsius, employing top or bottom pouring methods to showcase the freshness and elegance of green tea; and when facing rich dark tea, they choose purple clay pots, using boiling water and allowing a longer steeping time to release the richness and depth of dark tea.
Furthermore, stockpiling tea is another significant characteristic of tea lovers. Entering a tea lover's home, one often discovers a well-stocked “treasure trove” of teas. The reasons for stockpiling vary; some do it out of a hobby for collecting, hoping that the passage of time will imbue the teas with unique flavors; others are eager to try various teas at different times. Unknowingly, the amount of tea at home grows, each type seemingly carrying a story and expectation. They carefully select high-quality teas from famous mountains and rivers, such as rock tea from Wuyi Mountain, Pu'er tea from Yunnan, and Longjing tea from Hangzhou, adding them to their collection. Each tea is their treasure, embodying their pursuit of life quality and passion for tea culture.
In addition to these common traits, tea lovers often immerse themselves in the process of tasting tea, feeling the natural gifts contained in each leaf. They savor fresh Mingqian tea in spring, feeling the vitality of spring; enjoy refreshing white tea in summer, dispelling the heat; savor rich Oolong tea in autumn, appreciating the joy of harvest; and boil a pot of fragrant Black Tea in winter, warming the body and mind. They are not merely drinking tea but engaging in a dialogue with nature, gaining insights into the true meaning of life through the passage of time.
Tea lovers are also enthusiastic about sharing their tea-tasting experiences with friends. They invite friends to gather and jointly taste a newly acquired fine tea, exchanging feelings and experiences. In this process, they not only strengthen their friendships but also spread the profoundness of tea culture. They provide detailed introductions to the origin, production techniques, and flavor characteristics of each tea, allowing friends to appreciate the charm of tea.
The pursuit of tea utensils by tea lovers is endless. A set of exquisite tea utensils, for them, is not only a tool for brewing tea but also a work of art. They carefully select purple clay pots, blue-and-white porcelain cups, bamboo tea trays, and more, each utensil complementing the tea being brewed, creating an elegant atmosphere for tea tasting.
Moreover, tea lovers continuously learn and explore the mysteries of tea culture. They read related books, participate in tea ceremony training, gain a deep understanding of tea history, varieties, production techniques, and the spirit of teaism. They personally visit tea gardens, experiencing the pleasure of picking tea leaves and witnessing the entire process from branch to cup.
In summary, the world of tea lovers is rich and colorful, filled with a love and dedication to tea. Selecting seasonal teas, holding beloved Teacups, pouring boiling water, watching the tea leaves unfurl and sink in the cup, brewing the perfect cup of tea – this is the purest happiness for tea lovers. Dear friend, how many of these traits of tea lovers apply to you? Perhaps, when you truly enter the world of tea, feeling its charm with your heart, you will become a genuine tea lover, enjoying the endless beauty that tea brings to life.