Teas 101: Tea Magic and Potion Crafting
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 2:37 pm
Hey friends I am a tea connoisseur and study tea magic and am trying to create a 'school' of tea magic (as in, a way of thought, not a place to study).
First, I want to clarify some terms as how I will use them, and how you can use them when talking in detail about tea to avoid being ambiguous or confusing:
tea - This is reference to the actual tea plant (Camelia sinensis... not sure if I spelled that right, but it's close lol). This can reference the plant itself, the processed plant/herb (what is brewed to make a drink), or a drink made from brewing it. All of this is 'tea.' True 'tea' as you will.
infusion - The act of using hot water to pull oils &c from ingredients into the water. Creates broths, teas, etc. This word can also refer to the actual broth/tea/drink/potion.
herbal tea - Anything brewed in the same method as you would brew the tea plant to make tea, but not actually made with the tea plant. Because of this discrepency, I like to refer to these drinks as 'infusions' and not 'teas' or 'herbal teas' because they are, by definition, not exactly 'tea.' (It's a lot like calling a spider a 'bug' -- and since I'm trying to talk specifically about tea, I'd rather not use confusing or ambiguous language).
flavored tea - Mixing tea leaves with other ingredients. For example, putting some dried strawberries into your tea leaves then brewing it to make a strawberry tea. This is a flavored tea.
scented tea - Tea leaves that have absorbed the oils of other plants, usually by a process of 'bathing' the leaves in them. For example, to create most jasmine tea, jasmine leaves are placed over the tea leaves, and left to sit. The leaves absorb the jasmine oils and then the tea leaves contain both the jasmine and tea oils, releasing both when infused.
processing - When referring to tea, processing does not mean injecting with chemicals and trudged through a factory. Processing refers to the actions done to tea before it is brewed. For example, what makes black tea is the process of fermentation -- the leaves sit and then are fired/fried/etc. to stop the fermentation. Whereas a tea like white tea is steamed as soon as it is picked so it does not ferment. The exact process (hence the word!) that is used is referenced by the tea's processing, or how it is 'processed.' So when someone says black tea is more processed than green tea, it doesn't mean modified by chemicals or something like that.
And that's it for definitions
Now, onto the classification of tea, their physical properties, and their magical correspondences.
CLASSIFICATIONS
Tea can be classified into 'classes,' 'groups,' or 'grades' depending on when it is picked, how it is processed, etc. It is all the exact same plant, just grown, raised, picked, processed, etc. in different ways In general, the tea plant is said to have a fire affinity. However, in its time, before drinking, tea is greatly exposed to and empowered by all four elements... and with your help, you can imbue your own spirit and direct other energies into it as well.
In general, there are four, though many of these four classes can be broken down. Tea processing has also become more advanced so even more kinds of teas are made, and groups have been broken down even further. For drinking, selling, etc., you may want to use all of these extended definitions, but for magical purposes and potion-crafting, you don't need to worry about why there are 23502938598 names for classes of tea. Of course, where a tea is grown and exactly how it is processed is important, but you only need to 'lump' them into four main groups for basic correspondences.
The four main classes of tea can be viewed as relating to the cycles of the moon and the wheel of the year. I will explain with each of the four types, starting with white tea:
White Tea - White tea is the least processed of teas. It is picked when the leaves are very young buds. Because it can only be picked during this 'baby' stage, it is quite rare. Because it is picked during the 'early' phase and is still growing, we can see its relation to the spring season. It is a masculine tea with an air affinity, and the strongest connection to the moon. White teas are very pure, so they are great for purification and protection. They also relate with clarity, realization, meditation, cleansing, and connection to the Goddess or spirits. You can easily see this in their look (the tea will be very clear and lightly-colored). They are also a tea of new beginnings. Associated colors are white, silver, and yellow.
Green Tea - Green tea is more processed than white tea, and is picked later as well. However, it's not as aged as other teas, making it still a very 'youthful' tea. There are many varieties. Green tea inspires many cultures, and has led to much passion. Naturally, this is because green tea is a masculine tea with a fire affinity, and a tea of summer. It is also a tea of physical healing. Green tea is also great for the conscious mind, passions, sexual health and magic, energy, and love. It's a tea of progress and moving forward. Associated colors are red, blue, and green. (I know, weird.)
Oolong Tea - Oolong is when tea is no longer youthful, but processed enough that it is starting to ferment. We can see this in the autumn season as well (when oolong tea happens to taste the best, too!) Oolong is a feminine tea of the water affinity, and is a tea of reflection. It is a tea of meditation, wisdom, and deep concentration. It is a tea of romance and beauty, feelings and friendship. It is a very calming and soothing tea, and has a very interesting taste. It also is good for digestion and breaking down foods -- it is a mealtime tea. Associated colors are blue, brown, and purple.
Black Tea - Black tea is the most fermented ad processed of all teas. At this point, the tea gets shriveled and black in color, sometimes with "golden" tips (called 'tippy' teas). It no longer looks like the tea plant at all. This relates to the winter season. Black tea is a feminine tea with the earth affinity. Perhaps this is why it has such a rich, earthy taste. It is a tea of nature, a tea of strength and stability. It is also a tea of endings, a tea of death, a tea of closing. Because of this, it's good for expelling and removing unwanted or negative energies. Associated colors are black, green, and orange.
There is also a tea called "Puerh" tea that is a post-fermented black tea. You can think of it as a mead of teas, or a wine of teas! Though it is not alcoholic. Because of this, I tend to consider it the most divine of teas, and a tea of the aether/spirit element. I think the cumulation of all the energies of the other teas comes together in this type of tea Quality varies greatly and a true and good puerh tea is very rare and valuable.
I was going to post about brewing methods and stuff, but I have to go now. So perhaps I will post about that later Hopefully this gives you a little insight into the very basic magical properties of tea, and how you can use different types of tea to enhance your potions and teas properly. Most of this I have found simply from being a lifelong tea-drinker, connoisseur, and meditating on tea and using it in my own ritual. It pretty much lines up with the elements and wheel of the year, so it's not hard to find the inferences. But you'd be surprised how much their physical properties line up as well... tea was definitely a creation of the divine There is a reason it is the oldest drink on the Earth besides water, and why it sprung up in every culture across the world across history!
First, I want to clarify some terms as how I will use them, and how you can use them when talking in detail about tea to avoid being ambiguous or confusing:
tea - This is reference to the actual tea plant (Camelia sinensis... not sure if I spelled that right, but it's close lol). This can reference the plant itself, the processed plant/herb (what is brewed to make a drink), or a drink made from brewing it. All of this is 'tea.' True 'tea' as you will.
infusion - The act of using hot water to pull oils &c from ingredients into the water. Creates broths, teas, etc. This word can also refer to the actual broth/tea/drink/potion.
herbal tea - Anything brewed in the same method as you would brew the tea plant to make tea, but not actually made with the tea plant. Because of this discrepency, I like to refer to these drinks as 'infusions' and not 'teas' or 'herbal teas' because they are, by definition, not exactly 'tea.' (It's a lot like calling a spider a 'bug' -- and since I'm trying to talk specifically about tea, I'd rather not use confusing or ambiguous language).
flavored tea - Mixing tea leaves with other ingredients. For example, putting some dried strawberries into your tea leaves then brewing it to make a strawberry tea. This is a flavored tea.
scented tea - Tea leaves that have absorbed the oils of other plants, usually by a process of 'bathing' the leaves in them. For example, to create most jasmine tea, jasmine leaves are placed over the tea leaves, and left to sit. The leaves absorb the jasmine oils and then the tea leaves contain both the jasmine and tea oils, releasing both when infused.
processing - When referring to tea, processing does not mean injecting with chemicals and trudged through a factory. Processing refers to the actions done to tea before it is brewed. For example, what makes black tea is the process of fermentation -- the leaves sit and then are fired/fried/etc. to stop the fermentation. Whereas a tea like white tea is steamed as soon as it is picked so it does not ferment. The exact process (hence the word!) that is used is referenced by the tea's processing, or how it is 'processed.' So when someone says black tea is more processed than green tea, it doesn't mean modified by chemicals or something like that.
And that's it for definitions
Now, onto the classification of tea, their physical properties, and their magical correspondences.
CLASSIFICATIONS
Tea can be classified into 'classes,' 'groups,' or 'grades' depending on when it is picked, how it is processed, etc. It is all the exact same plant, just grown, raised, picked, processed, etc. in different ways In general, the tea plant is said to have a fire affinity. However, in its time, before drinking, tea is greatly exposed to and empowered by all four elements... and with your help, you can imbue your own spirit and direct other energies into it as well.
In general, there are four, though many of these four classes can be broken down. Tea processing has also become more advanced so even more kinds of teas are made, and groups have been broken down even further. For drinking, selling, etc., you may want to use all of these extended definitions, but for magical purposes and potion-crafting, you don't need to worry about why there are 23502938598 names for classes of tea. Of course, where a tea is grown and exactly how it is processed is important, but you only need to 'lump' them into four main groups for basic correspondences.
The four main classes of tea can be viewed as relating to the cycles of the moon and the wheel of the year. I will explain with each of the four types, starting with white tea:
White Tea - White tea is the least processed of teas. It is picked when the leaves are very young buds. Because it can only be picked during this 'baby' stage, it is quite rare. Because it is picked during the 'early' phase and is still growing, we can see its relation to the spring season. It is a masculine tea with an air affinity, and the strongest connection to the moon. White teas are very pure, so they are great for purification and protection. They also relate with clarity, realization, meditation, cleansing, and connection to the Goddess or spirits. You can easily see this in their look (the tea will be very clear and lightly-colored). They are also a tea of new beginnings. Associated colors are white, silver, and yellow.
Green Tea - Green tea is more processed than white tea, and is picked later as well. However, it's not as aged as other teas, making it still a very 'youthful' tea. There are many varieties. Green tea inspires many cultures, and has led to much passion. Naturally, this is because green tea is a masculine tea with a fire affinity, and a tea of summer. It is also a tea of physical healing. Green tea is also great for the conscious mind, passions, sexual health and magic, energy, and love. It's a tea of progress and moving forward. Associated colors are red, blue, and green. (I know, weird.)
Oolong Tea - Oolong is when tea is no longer youthful, but processed enough that it is starting to ferment. We can see this in the autumn season as well (when oolong tea happens to taste the best, too!) Oolong is a feminine tea of the water affinity, and is a tea of reflection. It is a tea of meditation, wisdom, and deep concentration. It is a tea of romance and beauty, feelings and friendship. It is a very calming and soothing tea, and has a very interesting taste. It also is good for digestion and breaking down foods -- it is a mealtime tea. Associated colors are blue, brown, and purple.
Black Tea - Black tea is the most fermented ad processed of all teas. At this point, the tea gets shriveled and black in color, sometimes with "golden" tips (called 'tippy' teas). It no longer looks like the tea plant at all. This relates to the winter season. Black tea is a feminine tea with the earth affinity. Perhaps this is why it has such a rich, earthy taste. It is a tea of nature, a tea of strength and stability. It is also a tea of endings, a tea of death, a tea of closing. Because of this, it's good for expelling and removing unwanted or negative energies. Associated colors are black, green, and orange.
There is also a tea called "Puerh" tea that is a post-fermented black tea. You can think of it as a mead of teas, or a wine of teas! Though it is not alcoholic. Because of this, I tend to consider it the most divine of teas, and a tea of the aether/spirit element. I think the cumulation of all the energies of the other teas comes together in this type of tea Quality varies greatly and a true and good puerh tea is very rare and valuable.
I was going to post about brewing methods and stuff, but I have to go now. So perhaps I will post about that later Hopefully this gives you a little insight into the very basic magical properties of tea, and how you can use different types of tea to enhance your potions and teas properly. Most of this I have found simply from being a lifelong tea-drinker, connoisseur, and meditating on tea and using it in my own ritual. It pretty much lines up with the elements and wheel of the year, so it's not hard to find the inferences. But you'd be surprised how much their physical properties line up as well... tea was definitely a creation of the divine There is a reason it is the oldest drink on the Earth besides water, and why it sprung up in every culture across the world across history!