Dao of Tea

The 'dao' of tea in broad terms refers to the arts of making and drinking tea it is both one of the rituals of life, with tea as its medium, and a mode of self-cultivation. Through brewing tea, appreciating its appearance, savoring its fragrance and relishing its taste, peace comes to the heart and strength to one's moral nature, and one's feelings and conduct are reshaped. The 'dao' of tea in China flourished under the Tang, and its practitioners were very particular about the quality of five conditions : the tea leaves, the water, the heating time and temperature, the tea vessels, and the surroundings. At the same time they matched the occasion to such other conditions as mood, seeking perfect harmony between the external flavour of the tea and the inner world of the heart.