

If you had lived in 18th century Kyoto, you might have enjoyed "simmered tea," a Chinese tea introduced by an old man named Baisao.

Baisao had once been an esteemed Zen monk but, for reasons unknown, he left the temple to offer tea to the citizens of Kyoto and, along the way, pass on a few sage words. It was a meager life, but not without joy - as evidenced by the poems he left behind. Here's an example:

I'm no Buddhist or Taoist

Nor a Confucianist either,

I'm a black-faced white-haired

Hard-up old man.

You think I just prowl

The streets selling tea?

I've got the whole universe

In this tea caddy of mine.



From The Old Tea Seller, translated by Norman Waddell