Lately, in the dark and cold of January in New York, I’ve been thinking a lot about tea. With the rush and busyness of modern life, we could probably all benefit from some aspects of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, in which every detail?from the tea cups to the way guests are seated?is given a great amount of care and attention. This kind of tea drinking isn’t about caffeine consumption; it’s about slow, mindful preparation and quiet sipping.
How to incorporate a small, mindful tea ritual into the everyday" We asked Emily Erb and Anna Morton, the women behind the California tea company Leaves & Flowers, for their modern adaptation. Read on for their tips.
N.B.: Erb and Morton’s preferred ritual, pictured here, is with matcha?a kind of green tea that is ground into a fine powder, then whisked, rather than steeped, in hot water?but their tips apply to any kind of tea you like. (Read more about matcha, and find Erb and Morton’s recipe, on Gardenista in Matcha 101: How to Make the Best Tea.) Photography by Daniel Dent.

Above: Erb and Morton’s tea ritual begins by measuring out the tea?in this case, matcha.
1. Take time out.
The most important component of a tea ritual: Taking time out of the day to prepare, sit, and sip. Choose a moment (Erb and Morton suggest morning, ?before the day begins,? or late afternoon, but any time will do) for a daily tea ritual?even if it means scheduling it on your calendar. The benefits are m...