Tea

If going to study in Kyoto was a kind of persistent longing, then tea has been a subtle thread running through my life, a hidden pulse extending far into the distance.

Perhaps due to my naturally gentle and unhurried temperament, I fell in love with tea during my secondary school years. You, on the other hand, are someone who acts with restraint and plans everything carefully. In the beginning, the idea of appreciating tea must have been deeply puzzling to you. When we first met, I would often bring you along with me to various tea houses. One pot of water, a few cups, and we could sit there for half a day. I found joy in it, while you sat uneasily, unsure of what to do.

Your eyes were filled with confusion. There was no greater purpose, no practical benefit. Why sit in such stillness with nothing to accomplish? In your world that values efficiency and structure, this must have felt like a waste of time. You did not yet understand tea, nor did you know what to say. But even so, you stayed. Quietly, patiently, you sat beside me and never once got up to leave.

As our relationship deepened, you, once an outsider, quietly became a trusted partner in all things tea. At the cultural festival of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, you explained my tea ceremony in Japanese. When we hosted a tea gathering at our Japanese language school, you designed the posters and flyers. You became my unofficial in-house designer, though in truth, you had been gently roped into the role. From building the Teapick website to creating the Hong Kong Tea Map, you always turned my dreams into a tangible reality with quiet dedication.

Later, when I returned from Kyoto to Hong Kong and began teaching, I founded Cung Fung with support from the school. From event posters to promotional materials, every detail reflected your touch. You may still not know the subtle difference between Mingqian and Yuqian teas, but you transformed your understanding of me into precise lines and harmonious colours through your design.

In search of the origins of the teas I love, you accompanied me over the past two summers, venturing to ancient wells, exploring hidden paths in Luxiu, and climbing the slopes of Fengshuke. It was the height of summer, the sun blazing overhead. Your face was flushed from the heat, beads of sweat streaming down your cheeks. Yet when you saw me excitedly pointing out tea trees, your eyes were full of joy. In that moment, I realised that the path you were willing to walk with me was not only the winding trails of the mountains, but the long and varied roads of life itself.

The line “reading books while the scent of tea wafts through the air” may capture a scholar’s romantic ideal, but it cannot compare to the quiet depth of your affection. You may not have truly fallen in love with tea, but because you love me, you were willing to embrace and support the world I am so devoted to.

This cup of tea is warm because of you.
These fleeting years are peaceful because of you.