8/8/2026: Tea Journal - W2T Ikebana 2025
Welcome to the first tea journal. These tea journals will go over the teas I am drinking and maybe personal thoughts that connect to the tea. Not every tea session I have will be documented, but the ones that strike me will make their way here. So take a seat at the table and enjoy a cup with me.
Today's Tea: white2tea's Ikebana 2025
I had gotten a new Gaiwan on my recent trip to see friends in Dallas. My favorite place to be is The Cultured Cup over in Farmer's Branch, and everytime I take the long drive over I give myself extra time to stop in. Since I usually come in on Saturday's I am able to spend time during their Sit and Sip time where they brew tea samples for customers. You can sit as long as you'd like and the conversation is always worth the drive. This time I spotted new teaware on their shelves, which is the beautiful Peony garden Gaiwan you see in today's set up. There were also these beautiful cups with butterflies and gold foiling that I could not resist. So I am happy to say that today's theme is "Flower Garden", and the reason I picked Ikebana 2025 for today's session.
I actually haven't had Ikebana since last October, since I am bad about hoarding teas and not finishing through them. White Tea is also my favorite tea type which means I do have many choices to go through, but Ikebana really is special. Ikebana 2025 is a "bud heavy" white tea. If you are unfamiliar, tea buds are often seen as premium parts of the tea plant. Tea buds hold more nutrients and the higher concentration of buds in a tea the creamier and sweeter the drink will be. And for a white tea I look for a clean, sweet tastes that are a general crowd pleaser. Ikebana hits those notes for me and is this fresh, sweet cup that over time turns from floral to a more delicate, creamy flavor. I'm still trying to learn how to discern flavors so I struggle to explain the exact notes, but it can be easier to explain the feeling of it.
Ikebana is a tea that makes me feel peace, it's light and delicate flavor doesn't try and take over my thoughts but works with them. After about 4 steeps I start to get that slight "tea buzz", where the caffeiene and the L-Theanine make my body feel more dialed in. I had my tea later than usual and I was able to watch the sun set while sipping my tea. We had summer storms roll through, and their was still cloud cover at sunset that difused the light fully across the sky. The colors a smooth, warm gradient that reflected off the pools of water on the patio. The beginning of sunset turned into this pale, warm yellow that when I looked down at my cup looked the same. It was like I was drinking a little bit a sunshine, and as the tea began to run out so did the light outside.
These feelings of peace and prescence, for me, seem to only be felt during tea. Taking the time to place my tea ware on its table, pick out a tea that feels right for that moment, and waiting for the water to heat. All these small steps, concious decisions, and patience involved in tea sessions create my own form of meditation. There is nothing else I need to do in that moment. No screens to watch, emails to read, papers to review. It's just me and the tea (and perhaps a nice window to look out of).
I've recently talked about digital minimalism and my steps to get deeper into it, and tea times like this are why. I won't go too deep into it as I have other posts I want to write dedication to it, but the tiny screen has never given me the peaceful moments I've descibed. No meditation app can recreate the moment where I breathe in the scent of the tea while looking out on a sunset. No form of affrimation video can bring me the comfort in the warmth of the tea cup. My hands can caress that physical warmth, and truly be apart of the tea. I hope everyone can find their "tea", so to speak.
Thank you for taking this time to sit with me and enjoy tea together. If there are more things you want to know about tea, please feel free to reach out.
Peace and Love, Nerdy Mug
Topics 
The Babies
