Konishi-san, the tea farmer, came to my garden this week.
What a treat to walk in the garden with him.
Thankful, he had Geena, the translator, with him.
I loved chatting about tea and getting acquainted.
Here he is chatting with my "live-in gardener".
We learned a little about caring for our tea plants.
Konishi-san comes every October to a local teashop, Jasmine Pearl,
where he sips tea with their customers and shares his tea.
His farm is near Mount Fuji in a region that is good for growing tea.
It is a small family run farm with just 5 family members that do all the plucking and processing.
In the box on the table he brought several packages of his pesticide free, organic teas.
Now I will be looking forward to sipping each one of them.
I decided to serve him my favorite tea from India,
Castleton Moonlight, first flush 2019.
Well I guess I could have served him some of his tea,
but thought he might enjoy another tea.
We all enjoyed it and a herbal cookies too.
Tea has opened up some wonderful friendships and experiences that I will always treasure.
This was a real treat.
In Tea the host is simplicity and the guest elegance.
If all is done in sincerity it is better than a thousand graces.
~Matsudaria Naritada
