Tealeaf reading - tasseography - probably began with the ancient Chinese

A Brief History of Tea

by Madame G

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Reading tea leaves…

The very phrase stirs up images of a bejeweled gypsy honing her craft, or perhaps of a kindly old grandmother pouring a spot of tea for guests in her cozy front parlor:

Matrons, who toss the cup and see
The grounds of fate in grounds of tea…
The bitter dregs of fortune’s cup to drain.
- Alexander Pope

This mysterious art most likely had its origins in the Middle East and the Orient, when camel caravans of spices and silks carried exotic wares between China and the Mediterranean. Trade routes began to appear in the third century A.D. in order to procure horses for the Han Dynasty, which extended from China to the Arabian Sea.

The earliest record of tea appeared in China, circa 350 B.C. By the time of the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.), tea was being fashioned into portable bricks of currency, prized among merchants and rulers alike. In 1600 A.D., England granted the Dutch East India Company a monopoly, and "chai" first began to arrive in Europe in 1610. The tea was imported from Java, where Dutch tea brokers bought it from Chinese merchants. When the tea was first introduced into Europe, it was an expensive beverage reserved for the wealthy. Tea was such a prized commodity in those days that it was kept locked up in beautiful wooden tea caddies or in cabinets ! By the 1700’s, tea had become a very popular beverage of the British Isles. We all know the story of the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when patriots disguised as Native Americans tossed a cargo of tea into the Boston harbor, rather than be subjected to the English tax on tea.

As a fortune telling art, reading tea leaves seems simple enough, yet it is surprisingly complex. Anyone can gaze into a messy jumble of leaves and attempt to divine a meaning, but like the Greek Oracle, a woman’s intuition is perhaps best suited to the task. A true reader must be able to translate her client’s fate, and the leaves never lie ! Psychologists believe we may possess an innate sense of symbolism, but I believe there is more to it than that. The questioner’s energy literally infuses the cup, and a skilled reader can interpret the patterns with astounding accuracy. And with practice, a reader's skill evolves over time; new symbols begin to emerge, and familiar symbols will often take on new meanings for certain clients. The client themselves can often suggest a meaning for a particularly problematic shape in the leaves which may evoke no particular connection in the fortune teller's mind, but has great emotional significance to her client.

How to Try Tea Reading

Want to try reading tea leaves yourself ? First, write down a list of a few simple symbols that have meaning to you. For example, an airplane may mean business travel to you. An apple may mean a teacher. And so on. Next, have a teacup and saucer available. They don't need to be fine bone china, but you will absolutely require both a cup and a saucer. Heat water in a kettle to just boiling, and pour over loose tea leaves in a covered teapot or saucepan. Let the tea steep for approximately 2 minutes if using black tea, longer for green.

Gently swirl the leaves as you pour into the teacup, being sure NOT to use a strainer, as the idea is to get some leaves into the cup. Flavor the tea if desired (this will not affect the reading.) Drink the tea down until there is only about 1/4 teaspoon of liquid left in the bottom, then swirl the cup and quickly turn upside down onto the saucer, allowing the tea to drain into the saucer. While the inverted cup sits on the saucer, rotate the upside down cup clockwise on the saucer three times, gently raising the cup up off the saucer and turning right side up again to read.

Look for groupings of leaves stuck to the inside of the cup. The shapes formed will suggest meanings to you. If two or more shapes are closely arranged, they may suggest a connection. For example, a boat shape near a deck chair may indicate an ocean cruise in your future. Have fun reading your tea leaves!
 

Madame G

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