Context
Water is the matriarch of tea.
Paired with the guidance, water is the most fundamental element of any brewing ritual.
It is when tea leaves and water meet that their true bond begins to unravel. A great tea activated with median water can stagnate the full potential of the blend.
The amalgamation between these elements has long been contemplated. Historically, water
sources were matched purposefully with tea blends to best articulate the distinct flavour
profiles provided by each botanical.
Naturally, not all water supplies were deemed equal. Earth water pertained to water
collected from springs, streams, rivers, lakes, and wells. Snow, sleet, hail, and rain were
praised as heavenly waters. Each origin was mindfully considered for its compatibility with
certain teas and was calculated with incredible sensitivity.
For example, snow gathered off a plum tree was believed to attribute different qualities than the snow provided from a pine tree and so on.
There are countless legends surrounding the hypersensitivity of the tea sages of the past.