Cho Inmok Meditation Tea

I began studying Korean tea ceremony in October 2003. It was a lot of work getting Kim Kyung-hi (Cho Inmok) to take me on as a student. She didn’t speak any English and I spoke little to no Korean.

We met one day at a small hermitage above Icheon, Gyonggido Province. She was serving tea to visitors
to Yong Waram, the hermitage. While watching her prepare the tea with such elegance and grace, despite no communication, I realized how relaxed I was. I decided that I wanted to learn how to recreate that relaxation! But she refused, usuing language as the excuse.

I got her business card and went to her shop the next day I had time. I drank a couple of different kinds traditional teas, citron and ginger. Then I asked again if I could be her student. No.

I can’t remember how many times, at least a couple more, but finally, she agreed! I was pretty happy 😃!!

This was the beginning of my tea life.

More next posting!

UPDATE: I will be in Nootka Court in Downtown Victoria from 11:00AM - 5:00PM to talk and learn more about tea! This will be the first time I have done anything public since the last Victoria Tea Festival in 2014(?) JagaSilk Superheroes Miyuki and Jared Nyberg are hosting the festival (I assume that because that is who I am usually talking with…I am sure there are other names to mention!) and if you have never witnessed the spirit of tea, these two are firebrands!

I will give a talk and abbreviated demo at around 2:30PM. It shouldn’t be too long, let’s hope the teaman shows up, rather than the Newfie!

Stop by my table and ask questions, hear stories, drink some tea!



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If things work out well, I will perform the Korean Meditation Tea Ceremony at the Victoria Tea Festival Revival on Saturday, October 22nd. More details when I have them!