Tea!

I am a great fan of tea and its health benefits. But there is also a great amount of tradition and ritual associated with the act ... errr... art... of drinking it.

Cool News writes that Hisashi Yamada, a "certified tea master," taught "the sublime peace that can come from the study of tea" most recently at the Urasenke Chanoyu Center in N.Y.C. Hishashi came to America, as as a translator at the 1964 World's Fair where he described the Japanese tea ceremony to visitors. The tea ceremony dates back about 400 years, when "a man named Sen Rikyu elevated the tea ceremony to an art."

The philosophy of tea, says Hisashi, "involves architecture, the garden, calligraphy, flowers, pottery and much more." A ceremony can be either with "thin tea," which is less formal and where conversation is allowed, or "thick tea," which "can last as long as four hours," and is silent. At the Urasenke center, "there is a garden surrounded by tearooms. A skylight creates the impression that it is outside -- and a world away from city streets." Everyone enters through a crawlspace, "making everyone equal." Hisashi thinks even ultra-busy Americans should find time for tea. "You discover that you are not as busy as you think," he says.

Tea has many health benefits because tea has polyphenols that help, among other things, to lower cholesterol, deactivate cancer promoters and help stimulate the immune system. So relax over a cup of tea, enjoy the ceremony of it all and reap the healthy benefits.
-----
To learn more, read: The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide