As winter unwinds and we reach out towards spring, I am thinking of spirals once again. How you can come around full circle in your life and you are not exactly at the place where you began but a notch up and further along on your journey. It isn’t a circle but more like a spiral. Time isn’t linear at all because it brings us back around to experiences that keep whispering their messages to us.
So, in all my musings on spirals, I chose this morning’s tea because it has an amazing leaf artfully shaped into spirals. The leaf appearance reminds me of a black tea version of Pi Lo Chun, Green Snail Spring. It is called Yunnan Spiral Buds from Yunnan province in China.
I steeped the leaves for 5 minutes in boiling temp water. The spirals released into long thinly rolled threads.
The dry leaf has a pistachio fragrance with a cocoa undertone. The cocoa tone steps to the forefront in the steeped tea’s aroma and lends itself to the taste as well.
The tea liquor is not as dark as other Yunnan black teas I have tried. Its rich amber glow reminds me of a Darjeeling color but the flavor is very different.
While the color is lighter, the taste is very full-bodied with that dark cocoa richness. I am enjoying my tea in one of the teabowls from the set I purchased from In Pursuit of Tea. I love everything about these small 4 oz. teabowls – from the rough texture of the glaze to how they cradle perfectly in my hand.
Today I am attending a Mystical Art Tea Party at my dear friend Laura’s house. A wonderful gathering of kindred art spirits enjoying tea and delicious food, conversation and hugs.
There is no hope of joy except in human relations.
– Antoine de Sainte-Exupery
Art and Tea 
oh, karen – a tea party!!! give your friend laura a hug for me…i will be thinking of you all enjoying the beauty of rituals and friendship.
too, i love the poem you listed in the previous post, and just may have to post it on my own blog soon. xoxo
Karen.. I was lucky to be part of the tea party. What a wonderful group of ladies we are… It was indeed mystical with Tarot Card readings, crystal readings and lots of wonderful tea and food. How wonderful it is to be in the company of beautiful goddesses.
What a beautiful analogy to sacred spirals!!!
Thanks Nina, for thinking of us at our tea party celebration. It was a wonderful time and there were many hugs all around that day. 🙂
I know Judy, it was such a special day. We should do that MUCH more often. When I move into my new home, I will have regular Tea Parties!
Thanks Steph!
Guess what another fan of Yunnan Spiral buds. Spirals looks beautiful as they released into long thinly rolled threads. Taste awesome just love the liquor for its delicate cocoa tinge with fruity hints. Yunnan Imperial, another option to try for true tea indulgence. Flavor is brisk and highly aromatic with an elegant spice tone.
Thanks for stopping by Eugene and sharing your thoughts about the Yunnan tea. It’s a wonderful tea!
[…] gunpowder “pellets”. These tea leaves have a looser shape, however, reminding me of the Yunnan Spiral Buds I reviewed 3 weeks […]