07/03/2026
We began by stepping into the ancient world of tea. On the table, three small bowls awaited curious hands and noses: chamomile, licorice root, and green tea. Before names were revealed, the children became little detectives—smelling, touching, and guessing: was it a flower, a root, a leaf? Together, we talked about how tea has been cherished for centuries, especially in Asia, as a way to welcome guests, show respect, and find calm. We even learned to appreciate the healing properties inside the new sensation of “bitterness” in tea.
Before drinking, we practiced a simple tasting ritual embodied by the Chinese character 品 (pǐn)—rooted in mindfulness, patience, and care. As a class, we took three slow sips, one for each 口 (“mouth”) in 品, noticing our senses, our bodies, and the feelings that bubbled up along the way.
First, we painted teapots using tea—real tea mixed with richer watercolor pigments. The kids experimented with tea bags, brushes, stampers, pipettes—you name it—to bring their teapots to life. The colors bloomed slowly on the page, just like tea blooming in water. Some pieces came out soft and misty, others bold and punchy, but all of them felt like tiny, personal ceremonies in color form.
Next, we crafted paper fans. We blew through straws to spread black ink across paper, watching it branch, split, and wander into unexpected shapes. Then we dabbed in cherry blossoms and fruit using Q-tips and stampers, and finally folded our ink paintings into fans—an exercise in focus and persistence.
Finally, we decorated intricate, elegant Asian hairpins (发簪), often worn by tea masters in traditional ceremonies. The children carefully chose where each gem sticker and faux flower should go, and we helped secure them with glue. One by one, our little tea guests transformed into elegant hosts.
