Yesterday I again visited the house that belonged to Karen Blixen – but this time to write about the walk through the garden and park, because it has connection to another danish poet, Johannes Ewald (1743-81). Benches have names, often from birds, because K.B. made it into bird sanctuary. Just outside I collected, and draw, some “ramsløg”, wild garlic.
One of the last mornings of the lockdown, a cloudy saturday early morning. I am preparing the room by lighting a new incense, bought in Elsinore recently: White sage cones by “elements”, “traditionally used in Native American rituals and ceremonies it cleanses and purifies while provides a naturally soothing environment”. It somehow calms and refreshes at the same time. Also, still in the room, the scent of drying nettles, plantain and especially woodruff.
Then it is Mei Leaf once more. In short, it is a high class Anji Bai Cha from Zhejiang, march 2019, with notes of “freshly mowed grass, asparagus umami, starfruit and green pumpkin seeds”. While brewing, I listen Don’s video about the tea and his recommandations for brewing.
The wet leaves, after brewing 3gr 25 sec., have an amazing scent of s.th. savory, that is even more complex and deep than what he describes – I imagine a whole plate with butterfried MEAT, and vegetables, maybe green beans and asparagus, on the side. THAT’S interesting…
The tea itself round, medium thick, fresh meadowlike, as Don said. The whole ‘meal’ is not in the liquor, though (I later smell the wet leaves after the 2. brewing, and there it is again!).
Next to me sit a big round fluorite crystal, I also picked up in Elsinore. It does s.th. to me in my hand, and when we checked its meaning in a book, it said cleansing, clearing ones mind, learning and making decisions. Great.
The tea matches so well this white green scent of sage – the light turquoise fluorite stone – the view out of the window at the calm silvergrey sea – and the park trees all clad in fresh lime green leaves, still small and delicate… The taste of the tea is so sweet and round and back in the mouth somehow. No astringency at all. A good morning it was – and a good morning and day to you.
Ulla
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