Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Herbal lessons in the tao of tisanes at Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour
IT MAY come as a surprise to regular readers and those who know me, but I don’t always drink wine. Or bubbly, or beer, or gin, or cocktails, or – well, you get the idea. Very often I am partial to a nice cup of tea, especially first thing in the morning.
I took myself off to Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour where the lady herself, Jessica Bonin, gave me one of her tea courses, introducing me to the ancient rituals of tea-making as well as several different types of tea, some of which I’d never heard of before.
The parlour is in the Woodstock Exchange. There you can buy a wonderful range of loose leaf teas, or escape from the world to drink a cup right there. Besides the tea course, there are tastings, tea and food pairings, and high teas.
When I arrived, Bonin was setting up several pots and tiny cups on a special tea tray, with tools and accoutrements from her private collection. In bowls laid out before her were green, oolong, black, and white tea leaves, herbal blends (technically not a tea but a tisane, the category into which our famous rooibos falls), and a compressed cake of puehr, a true fermented tea which can be aged anything up to 50 years and is highly prized. “This one is worth more than its weight in gold,” she said. “It’s a great tonic tea.”
The lesson began with a history of tea and its medicinal properties, and the many factors which determine the end result of this magical plant, from weather conditions to when and how it is picked. A wealth of fascinating information was imparted, and as she explained each type of tea, Bonin prepared a pot for tasting. In between there were stories of her travels to the far-flung tea-growing regions, tales of tea rituals and peaceful places, and how her grandmother taught her tea should be made with love because you can taste the difference.
Not only does she source and sell top quality loose leaf tea, but Bonin practises what she preaches, embracing a tea lifestyle with a passion that is obvious. She drinks it several times a day (and coffee on Sundays) according to mood and circumstance, and is extremely knowledgeable.
Part of the course includes blending your own tea, but I got happily sidetracked when I saw a huge bowl of bright green frothy liquid being served to a customer. It was matcha, Bonin told me.
It’s what happens when dried green tea leaves are ground into a ludicrously coloured powder which you mix with hot water.
It’s potent and intense and because you are ingesting the leaves and not just an infusion, it amplifies all the benefits of a normal cup of tea. Made with a bit of coconut milk, and honey if required, it’s reputed to make you alert, focused and calm, all at the same time.
I immediately ordered a cup and bought some of the magic powder to take home.
With so many exotic blends to choose from, each with different purported health benefits, I nearly went a little mad. Fired with enthusiasm (and probably feeling the effects of the matcha) I never wanted my tea in a bag again. This meant I had to get a little gadget to strain my leaves as well.
To be honest, I have backslid somewhat but am still entranced by the romantic notion of taking the time to make a proper cup of tea.
The morning cup of matcha works wonders, I must say.
● Booking is essential for the course, which costs R450 a person (R400 a person sharing). Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour is in shop AG11b in The Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock. For more information call 083 628 2504, e-mail info@ladybonin.com, or see http://ladyboninstea.com.