It is summer. Almost. But my tea is still hot. Instead I am overeating cold watermelons; not to stay cool but because I have no reservation when it comes to watermelons.
I must agree, though, with those who say hot liquids cool down the body in summer. I am sweating, but it is different. If you’ve not tried drinking––slowly with presence––hot beverages in hot weather, you might want to explore the experience. It is interesting.
Okay, we’re suppose to be talking about this tea I have blended for you: Chamomile-Rooibos. Just one word: delicious! If you need more words: earthy, smooth, mildly fragrant, and refreshing.
Morning to afternoon are the best times to drink it if you’re sensitive to caffeine––it’s low caffeine. But you can easily make a caffeine-free blend by not including the black tea in the ingredients list. It won’t change the taste much.
Perfect for afternoon zen-ing. But if the tea doesn’t do it, then hopefully the two translations of Lao Tzu’s [老子] Tao Te Ching [道德经] #33 by Jeff Pepper + Xiao Hui Wang, and Ursula K. Le Guin, further below might help you into “zen-ing.” Yes, both translations are necessary. . . read both and you’ll see what I mean.
Right, 我们开始吧！[Let’s go!]
Ingredients for a 16 ounce pot
[I boil my tea, if you are not boiling the tea you might
want to steep it for a longer time–at least 15 minutes]
+ Rooibos: 1 tbs
+ Chamomile: 1 tbs
+ Black tea: 1/2 tsp
+ Turmeric: 1/4 tsp
+ Cinnamon: about 1/2 – 1 inch
+ Cloves: about 3 pieces
If using turmeric granules, first crush them into smaller granules.
Add cinnamon stick and crush, not to powder.
Add cloves, and again crush into the rest of the mix, see picture below.
Add rooibos and mix.
Add black tea and mix.
Add chamomile and mix.
Put tea into infuser and into pot, pour water over the tea in the pot. Stop almost to the brim.
I boil my tea on low heat for 9 minutes. But every stove is different, so boil until you hear the water start to rumble in that low way that suggests it’s about to roll-boil.
Okay, to the two translations of 老子’s poem:
1st version in simplified Chinese, pinyin,
& translation
Dao De Jing 【道德经 】 #33
知人者智，自知者明。
zhī rén zhě zhì, zì zhī zhě míng.
胜人者有力, 自胜者强。
shèng rén zhě yǒu lì, zì shèng zhě qiáng.
知足者富，强行者有志。
zhī zú zhě fù, qiángxíng zhě yǒu zhì.
不失其所者久，死而不亡者寿。
bù shī qí suǒ zhě jiǔ, sǐ ér bù wáng zhě shòu.
—
Know people and you are clever,
Know yourself and you have insight.
Triumph over other people and you have influence,
Triumph over yourself and you are strong.
Know you have enough and you are rich,
Be determined and you will have a strong will.
Don’t lose your place, and you will endure,
Die but don’t be destroyed, and you will live forever.
—
2nd version
Tao Te Ching #33
Title: Kinds of Power
Knowing other people is intelligence,
Knowing yourself is wisdom.
Overcoming others takes strength,
overcoming yourself takes greatness.
Contentment is wealth.
Boldly pushing forward takes resolution.
Staying put keeps you in position.
To live till you die
is to live long enough.
—
So you see, zen-ing.
请慢用 (enjoy)!
—
J. A. O
