This Week in Practice: The Comfort Zone of Tea — and the Surprise of Discovery
It’s human nature to find something we enjoy and stick with it. When it comes to tea, many of us discover a favorite — the style, the flavor, the ritual — and settle into that groove. There’s comfort in the familiar, a feeling of safety and ease in returning to what we know and love. Yet, this comfort zone can sometimes blind us to the richness that lies beyond.
Consider shou puerh, for example. It’s not uncommon to meet tea drinkers who dismiss it outright, claiming it tastes like “pond water” or has a musty character they dislike. This generalization overlooks the wide range of quality and complexity that shou puerh can embody. When introduced to a well-crafted, carefully processed shou puerh, these same skeptics often express surprise — marveling at the tea’s sweetness, depth, and soothing earthy notes.
Sibylline Flush is another tea that often flies under the radar. Many oolong lovers—and tea drinkers in general—may have skipped this wild tree oolong, missing out on a profoundly satisfying experience. What makes Sibylline Flush special is the old, wild trees it comes from, which impart a heady aroma and deep complexity. The tea’s rich floral notes — think creamy rose, blooming lilac, and green stems — unfold slowly and linger delightfully on the palate.
One key to truly appreciating Sibylline Flush is presence. Brewing it with care — bringing down the temperature slightly — allows the tea to reveal its full character. Even if you don’t usually gravitate toward oolongs, this tea invites a slow, attentive brewing practice that can open new doors of flavor and calm.
Five Element Insights: Earth Element Reflection: The Dance of Giving and Receiving
This week’s reflection turns toward the Earth Element, the foundation of nourishment, balance, and groundedness in the Five Element system. Earth invites us to consider reciprocity — the delicate balance of giving and receiving that sustains not only ecosystems but also human relationships.
One challenge many of us face is erring on the side of holding back — not giving enough of ourselves, our time, our care. This tendency can leave us disconnected and unfulfilled.
A quote that has resonated deeply with the Living Tea community comes from Rabindranath Tagore:
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.”
This beautiful progression reminds us that true joy often arises when we step beyond ourselves and serve others. The act of giving — whether through time, presence, kindness, or shared rituals like tea — is itself a source of nourishment and fulfillment.
In tea practice, this might mean inviting someone to share a cup, or simply dedicating your brewing time as a gift to yourself, a moment of care that ripples outward.
What We're Drinking This Week: Sibylline Flush — A Deep Dive into Wild Tree Oolong
The tea we’re drinking this week, Sibylline Flush, exemplifies the Earth Element’s qualities of depth, rootedness, and complexity.
Harvested from old, wild tea trees in Taiwan, Sibylline Flush is a rarity. Unlike many Northern Taiwanese oolongs, which tend to be striped and lighter processed, this tea is rolled into tight balls, a style reminiscent of the Si Ji Chun varietal (also known as Four Seasons). The result is a tea that carries both strength and patience.
The mid-level roast balances beautifully with a floral explosion — green stems, creamy rose, and blooming lilac — creating a multi-layered sensory experience. Each steeping reveals new facets, and the flavors linger softly on the palate, inviting repeated sips and deep appreciation.
Drinking Sibylline Flush is an invitation to slow down and become fully present, to experience the tea as a form of meditation. It transports you beyond the ordinary, connecting you to the wild trees and ancient earth from which it was born.
Current Inspirations: Poetry and Presence — At the Entrance of the Cave by Hansa Devi
Alongside tea, poetry often serves as a doorway into presence and contemplation. This week, we’re drawn to At the Entrance of the Cave, the debut poetry collection from Hansa Devi. Her work journeys deep into the sacred, the raw, and the real, holding space for impermanence, longing, attention, and the paradoxes of existence.
The poems resonate with the teachings of non-dualism — Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, Buddhism — threading together wisdom traditions that invite us to witness life fully, without judgment or separation.
Each poem acts as a portal into the mystery of life, nudging us to embody presence and gratitude even amid the complexities and contradictions of experience.
Hansa is not just a poet but also a dear friend of Living Tea, having shared her gifts as a chef on several of our retreats.
If you feel called to explore her work, you can purchase the book here. The Living Tea community can enjoy 20% off with the code LIVINGTEALOVE. Follow her creative journey on Instagram at @nomindmala.
Friends of Living Tea: Genevieve Medow-Jenkins and Secular Sabbath
Connection and community are core to a life of Tea, and this week we highlight a dear friend whose work embodies these values.
Genevieve Medow-Jenkins was raised at the Esalen Institute, a legendary artist colony nestled in the Big Sur foothills. Her upbringing was steeped in creativity and sensory experience — from singing and dancing to meditations in natural hot springs.
After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she found herself longing for the deep sense of intentional community she had known at Esalen. This longing birthed Secular Sabbath, a unique and restorative practice blending ambient music, sensory awareness, and communal gatherings.
Secular Sabbath is a vibrant blend of tea ceremony, breathwork, yoga, live drawing, and more — all designed to nurture curiosity, presence, and creative growth. It invites participants into a multisensory meditation practice that supports deep relaxation and restoration.
Genevieve’s vision and passion for fostering genuine connection have built an organic global community committed to incorporating Secular Sabbath into daily life.