How To Make A Cup Of Sri Lankan Milk Tea & Find Contentment
What does it mean:
It is a moment that breaks your worries and troubles. It is a warm happy escape like a temporary oasis in the middle of a desert of being in “on mode”
Instructions:
1. Put water into the water heater or pot, making sure it is cold, fresh water that has not been boiled before, and turn on to start heating up
a. This is the start of your break, when you are allowed to let go of your productivity, critical thinking and the need to push, this is where you let it all go
b. Give yourself the permission to fully embrace the minutes of oasis coming your way, only by fully embracing this break will you be able to reharness your concentration and focus, if you do not grant yourself this permission, your mind will not get the mental breeze of air it needs
2. Select the right mug
a. The chosen mug must match the current mood you are in
i. If at the beginning or end of your day choose a mug that is a bit bigger and softer to hold. If during the work day choose a mug that is slimmer and to the point.
ii. The chosen mug must have a brim that is not too thick, otherwise the sensation of taking a sip is deteriorated by the possibility of dripping, detracting from the moments of letting go
3. Add the tea bag and ensure it is a classic black tea with a bold flavor
a. The selection of the brand does matter
i. Never get store brands, and pay attention to where the tea was sourced from as the making of tea and the selection of tea leaves is an art
ii. To get the depth of the tea flavor, I recommend tea leaves sourced from Sri Lanka
4. Once the water is boiled, let it rest for 1–2 min as pouring freshly boiled water burns it, causing an artificial bitter taste. Pour the water until halfway or a little short of halfway towards the top of the mug and leave the tea bag stew for the exact prescribed time on the packaging.
a. The pouring of the water is a signal to your brain to completely let go of any tightness or pressure. You have to give the tea up to 5 min to properly brew, this is time you must wait and cannot hurry up.
b. You are allowed to let your mind wander to a subject you weren’t thinking of before starting to make your cup of tea
5. Once the sufficient brew time has been reached, remove the tea bag and squeeze it near the brim of the cup to release the absorbed tea to prevent dripping.
a. Taking care not to drip or spill will keep your mind calm and prevent it from being shaken, steps taken to prevent the shaking of your mind will go a long way to keep that lightness
6. Once the tea bag has been removed, add one and a half to two teaspoons of sugar to the mug and stir.
a. Pull the spoon from the bottom to see if there is still undissolved sugar, this can be especially true in the middle of the cup where the stirring causes an island of sugar to form
7. Now for the final ingredient, add cold or boiled milk to the cup until it turns a color slightly lighter than caramel
a. It is recommended to use either 2% or whole milk as fat free milk does not provide the creamy taste, and instead makes the tea diluted and watery
8. Clean up the area and put back the ingredients to their rightful place, wipe any fragments of sugar grains and leave the space spotless
a. The mind will feel at ease and preserve the calmness of the activity, leaving the space not cleaned will leave your mind clouded ever so slightly taking away from the experience
9. Find a comfortable soft space to sit, do not engage in the activity you were doing prior to making a cup of tea, these coming minutes are your moments for your mind to find contentment, satisfaction, excitement, longing and inspiration
a. Do not allow your mind to go into “on mode” yet, doing so will detract from the surge you will feel if you just wait until your cup of tea is done
b. Open a book or magazine with pictures of adventure or stories that make you feel a tick in your heartbeat
10. For the final step, wash your mug and place it where your found it
a. This is the signal to your mind to return to focus, to return to “on mode”
b. Walk towards your workspace reminding yourself the break that was given and rejuvenation that was attained to heighten and refresh your ability to produce & create
