This is the second entry in our “Tea Time Scenes” series,
where I share small moments when tea gently fits into everyday life.
As the sun begins to set,
the sky slowly shifts from orange to deep indigo.
A quiet settles into the room,
and I feel my breath and mind gently returning to the present.
From a small speaker,
soft, nostalgic piano blues plays—
music that soothes the heart and brings a gentle calm.
Each note melts into the air,
leaving behind a warmth, a sense of space,
and a quiet kind of depth.
Even on busy evenings,
this kind of music gives me a moment of stillness—
a gentle pause in the rush of the day.
And with it, I pour a cup of kukihoujicha—stem-roasted green tea,
warmed just slightly to awaken its fragrance.
I place a small dish of the dry tea leaves in the microwave for a few seconds,
and a sweet, nutty aroma rises softly into the room—
the kind of scent you encounter when stepping through the noren curtain of our main shop.
Brewed from those warmed leaves,
this hojicha tastes like liquid twilight:
gentle, grounding, and full of peace.
Music and tea—
neither can be seen,
but both have a quiet power to bring us back to ourselves.
That’s what I always feel during this time.
Next time, I’ll be sharing a night-time tea scene:
a cup of bancha and a small sweet before bed 🌙
Until then, may you find your own little tea moment,
just when you need it most.