December 7th is National Letter Writing Day. We’re not 100% sure this is a real holiday, but we still decided to celebrate. In honor of this (possibly fictitious) day, we wrote an open letter to our favorite thing: Tea. An open letter is a letter in which the recipient cannot, or will not, reply. We like to think that tea would write us back if it could, but we know that it’s extremely unlikely.
Dear Camellia Sinensis,
You don’t know us, but we know you. We know your storied history of emperors and nobles, and we’re incredibly flattered to be in your presence. You’ve come a long way. From the gardens and fields of China, across the Middle East, through trading posts, harbors, and even over vast oceans.
And here we are – centuries later, enjoying the same magical liquid that was once reserved for royalty. To us, you’re more than just “leaf water.” You’re a cup of complex flavor. How is it that one plant can produce such a variety of tastes and smells?
Producing you is an art form, and it’s one that we’ve come to respect and admire. You’re sometimes shade-grown, or mountain-grown, or sprawling like vines. Your delicate silver needle buds are picked with the utmost care. Your leaves are steam-cooked, tossed for oxidation, or exposed to the rich aromas of night-blooming Jasmine. Only the best of your leaves are ground into Matcha and then enjoyed in a ceremony that celebrates your elegance.
We treat you with love. We boil our water to the perfect temperature and steep for the right amount of time so that your leaves will unfurl and your flavors will flourish. We hand-blend you with flowers, herbs, seeds, and fruits and you still taste decadent and delightful. From Earl Grey Creme to Green Pomegranate, you soar when properly combined with complementary flavors.
You warm our hearts (and our bellies) and make our taste buds very happy. So, thank you for being you.
Love,
Art of Tea
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