Oolong Time
Photos by Brette Little
Overlooking the Fulford Valley, Tea Mistress Jennifer Maksymetz offers tea classes in her cosy tea house, surrounded by trees and big rocks covered in moss. It provides the perfect backdrop for a grounding few hours to discuss all things related to tea, and instills a sense of mindfulness that can be cultivated through the act of making and drinking tea.
Jennifer talks about tea as a tool of reclaiming attention and creating balance, and the power in choosing to focus your attention on simply drinking tea. Drawing from her 20 years of sourcing teas throughout Asia while learning from world-renowned tea masters, Jennifer shared stories of visiting micro tea farms in China and Taiwan, where she connected with families who have been growing tea leaves in the same organic, hand-picked, hand-processed ways for generations.
“Artisan made tea has all the same nuances as a great single-malt whiskey or a single-vineyard wine, if not more. And that pairing the perfect tea with a meal is revolutionary for most palates.”
— Jennifer Maksymetz
She imparts an appreciation for the history of tea, how the taste of each variety of tea depends on its region, and the craftsmanship involved in transforming leaves into the teas we drink. The Tea Mistress steeps a feeling of ritual and sacredness into what previously felt like a mundane activity. Use the time the kettle takes to boil as a moment of stillness. To just breathe while waiting for the water to bubble. The importance of slowness in preparing to make tea is part of the magic.
Read below for our Q+A with Jennifer:
You’ve talked about tea as a form of peaceful disobedience. What does that mean to you?
It means taking time out of societies gaze of commodification, the attention economy, and choosing to focus your attention on simply drinking tea. It is a powerful tool to help reclaim your personal agency. We live in a time where our attention is our most valuable asset, and choosing to focus it elsewhere [like on tea] becomes a form of peaceful civil disobedience.
What’s one thing related to tea that you wished more people knew/embraced?
Artisan made tea has all the same nuances as a great single-malt whiskey or a single-vineyard wine, if not more. And that pairing the perfect tea with a meal is revolutionary for most palates.
How is tea part of your everyday rituals?
I make tea throughout the day, and I use that time to focus my attention on simply making tea. It is a daily practice, an art. The point being to cultivate presence with friends or with oneself, to celebrate the subtle nuances and stillness of life, and to access the magical nodes in a simple, non-dogmatic, and accessible way.
What teas are personally important to you?
I drink tea seasonally - fresh greens, raw puerh, and lightly oxidised Oolongs in the Spring and Summer to cleanse and cool the body, and then baked Puerh and dark roasted teas in the fall and winter for warming and digestion. My heart belongs to Taiwanese Oolongs, specifically lightly oxidised Tie Guan Yin, the enchanting aroma and citrusy and buttery taste takes me back to my time in Taiwan 20 years ago.
What offerings is Tea Mistress offering in the spring/summer this year?
An Introduction to Tea Culture and Ceremony will be offered in the teahouse or outside on the deck soaking in the view. This class offers insight for all levels, imbuing a deeper understanding into tea varieties, artisanal production methods, historic relevance, tea health, metaphysical qualities and the art of ceremony. You will develop your tea palate, and learn an everyday practice to enhance clarity and increase happiness.
This summer we will also be introducing Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) and Tea. Forest bathing has become a cornerstone of preventive healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine and tea has been lauded by poets, artists, and scholars since antiquity - an enchanting combination. We invite you to immerse yourself in nature as we walk into a grove of ancient Cedars, Old growth Fir and lush ferns. After a peaceful 30 minute walk we will arrive at a remote ocean cove where we will share organic artisanal tea. We will also have the opportunity to stop at a micro tea farm!