In tea communities, especially in those formed around Gong Fu Cha, there's a common idea that tea makes you a better person. But does it really? And if it does, how exactly does that happen?
It's something tea drinkers mention from time to time, often casually during a session or as a passing thought. People say tea has a way of changing you, but no one usually digs deeper into why or how.
Still, if you've been practicing Gong Fu Cha long enough, you might notice subtle shifts. You're calmer, more patient, slower to react. Gradually, you're becoming a better you.
This blog post is an attempt to take that idea seriously – not just as a poetic notion, but as something we can look at more closely. What's the mechanism behind it? Is there something in the way Gong Fu Cha works, physically, emotionally, and even neurologically, that explains why it helps people grow?
Let's look at what happens to us when we sit down with a pot of tea and why it might be doing more than just helping us relax.
Two Decades with Gong Fu Cha: A Personal Reflection
I've been practicing Gong Fu Cha for almost twenty years now. When I was getting into tea, it was because I liked tea. I enjoyed the taste, and the process of brewing tea felt nice. I wasn't expecting tea to aid my personal growth. I wasn't even thinking in that direction. But, after some years of practice, I began to notice changes. Gradually, I became more composed and less prone to reacting impulsively. I don't rush to conclusions or get pulled into unnecessary conflicts as easily as I used to. I became a bit more patient. A little more forgiving. A bit slower to judge.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what to attribute these changes to. Obviously, life itself shapes us in many ways. After all, I am growing older, thus becoming wiser, of course;) Yet I'm certain that my tea practice has played a big part in this quiet transformation.
I'm not suggesting Gong Fu Cha is a magic solution. Sometimes, more often than I should, I get frustrated or angry. But compared to how I used to be, I'm calmer, more aware of my reactions, and generally less impulsive. Tea has taught me something valuable by inviting me to sit down and pay attention to what's going on, both in the tea and in myself.
What Is Gong Fu Cha?
People often describe Gong Fu Cha as a "tea ceremony," but that doesn't quite capture it. At its core, Gong Fu Cha is the practice of cultivating one's skill in making (and enjoying) tea. That's what the term means –brewing tea with effort and attention. And over time, that attention starts to shape the person practicing it.
It's not about performing a ritual or following a strict set of rules. It's about learning to listen to tea. When you brew tea, you start paying attention to subtleties: how the flavors unfold, how the aroma shifts from steep to steep, how the tea lingers or fades, and how it affects you, both physically and emotionally. You begin to notice how your state of mind influences the way you brew and the way the tea tastes.
Gong Fu Cha trains your perception. At first, it's about the tea. But gradually, it transcends it. Gradually, you are becoming more aware of your surroundings, your body, your thoughts, and your reactions. You become a bit more tuned in. What starts as a brewing method turns into a habit of paying attention, even outside of the tea table.
You become more mindful in general, noticing your patterns of behavior and reactions. Instead of immediately responding to triggers, you find yourself pausing to reflect first. You start to recognize what's behind your reactions, which gives you space to decide how you actually want to act.
This type of awareness makes you a better listener, not only to others but also to yourself. You get better at stepping back and observing your thoughts and emotions before acting on them.
The Aesthetic Environment of Tea and Its Moral Influence
In Gong Fu Cha, the setting often reflects the personality of the person brewing. There are people leaning toward wabi-sabi aesthetics: rough clay, worn wood, asymmetry, and simplicity. Others prefer something more refined, with polished surfaces, clean lines, and elegant porcelain. Either way, you're surrounded by what you perceive as beauty.
Spending time in this kind of environment has an effect. You start to notice the feel of the teacup in your hand, the steam rising up your Cha Hai, the shift in light across the table. Here, beauty is subtle. And that kind of beauty does something to your thinking. It creates a receptive mindset.
Usually, we don't do bad things or harm others or their feelings when we're feeling good. We act out when we're off balance, stressed, disconnected, unhappy. A person who feels good about their life, who finds joy in simple things, who sees beauty in the everyday is less likely to lash out or cause harm. A content person is more likely to be a kind one.
Finding Beauty in Impermanence
Every tea session is a reminder that nothing lasts, and we should cherish this very moment. You can't brew the same tea twice. Even if you try to replicate every condition – the same leaves, the same pot, and the same water – it will still taste a little different. And it's beautiful. Each harvest has its own taste. Every teapot eventually cracks. And these changes stop feeling like flaws. In these changes, we find poetry.
Once you start realizing the fleeting nature of things, you become more careful with your time, more patient with others, you begin to see value in things because they won't be around forever.
Tea Communities and the Influence of Good Company
We all seek out friendships with those who resonate with us. Gong Fu Cha, naturally, connects you with people who share similar values and interests.
The people you spend time with matter. We all influence each other, often without even realizing it. When you practice tea with friends who value beauty and who treat the world around them with care, it tends to rub off on you. Friendships formed around tea can be deeply rewarding. It's a gentle way of reinforcing qualities that might not come as naturally without that shared experience.
Surround yourself with friends who bring beauty into everyday life, and your life will become so much brighter and better.
The Science: What Happens in the Brain When We Drink Tea Mindfully
As it turns out, there's a scientific side to all of this. When we drink tea mindfully, paying close attention to the taste, aroma, texture, and how it makes us feel, we're not just enjoying a moment of calm. We're also activating a specific part of the brain called the insula.
The insula (insular cortex) is a region in the brain involved in processing taste, bodily sensations, and internal states – a function known as interoception. It's what helps you notice things like your heartbeat, your breathing, or that subtle tension in your shoulders. But it doesn't stop there. The insula also plays a key role in emotional awareness. It helps you recognize what you're feeling and is closely linked to empathy – the ability to understand what someone else might be feeling.
When we drink tea with attention, rather than just sipping while distracted, we stimulate a part of the brain that supports both self-awareness and emotional understanding. Over time, this kind of regular activation can strengthen those abilities. You may start to notice your own emotional patterns more clearly and become better at recognizing what others are experiencing, becoming more aware and considerate of their feelings.
In that sense, mindful tea drinking isn't just relaxing but a subtle but consistent form of training for the mind.
"Drinking Tea, I Stopped The War" – Robert Brumet
These shifts don't happen overnight, and tea doesn't work like magic. It neither demands nor promises anything. But if you keep sitting down, pouring water, paying attention to aromas and tastes – something gradually begins to change, quietly, almost unnoticed.
Tea is subtle. It doesn't tell you how to be mindful or patient; it just creates a space where you can connect with self.
So, let's pause and have some tea. Let's pay attention to self and to tea, noticing how it affects our body and mind. And from this mindful state, let's try to practice patience, understanding, and kindness. After all, we're all connected, influencing each other at all times. So, let's make things around us just a little better, one sip at a time.