The Honeymoon is Over
Autumn Equinox Reflections
The world feels a little surreal at the moment. I’m 99% sure it’s just jet lag, but there’s that 1% chance it’s due to eclipse season. Less than 24 hours back in Miami, I found myself heading to the studio to start organizing the Vietnamese tea samples I’ll be cupping this week. While I was there, my favorite neighbor, Jon, chef-owner of Tran An, the Vietnamese spot next door to Admari, stopped by. We swapped stories about Hanoi, and it was comforting to have some of my personal experiences validated; Jon lived there for a few years, and our chat added another layer of perspective to my recent travels.
Now, back at home, Choco, my loyal Shih Tzu, is curled up at my feet, while Bailey, the Havashu, snores lightly nearby. Classical music plays in the background, and with a cup of Golden Eyebrows (Jin Jun Mei) steaming nearby, I’m sitting at the dining table, gathering my thoughts for this week’s post.
There are so many things I could write about today. This recent trip to Vietnam was one of the most expansive experiences of my life, but I need time to fully integrate all the thoughts and feelings I gathered over the past few weeks. Today, being the Autumn Equinox, feels like the perfect time to reflect, not only on the external journey but on the internal one too. The equinox, a moment of balance between light and dark, mirrors my own need to find balance after this intense period of tea research and travel.
It feels like the honeymoon is over.
I’m no longer chasing the thrill of newness, those first exciting moments of discovery in tea. Instead, this season is about integration; about tying together all that I’ve learned, grounding myself in the deepening relationship I have with tea and tea culture. Just as a marriage deepens after the honeymoon phase, my connection to tea has grown more profound. It’s not about the constant pursuit of new experiences but about consistency, and the knowing that comes with time.
As the season shifts, I feel my approach to tea shifting too. The equinox symbolizes this; a call to embrace the deeper commitments and subtle understanding that come with years of drinking tea and study. It’s a time to reflect, to appreciate the balance between the external world of travel and the internal journey tea continues to guide me through.
This experience was different from other journeys I’ve taken in the past, not just to Vietnam, not just tea travel but to many other journeys around the world. Usually, my travels feel cinematic, like a movie unfolding with soundtracks and storylines. This time, there was neither. It felt stripped down - raw and real. The natural sounds of life were my soundtrack, and the unpredictability of nature provided the plot points.
In Vietnam, it wasn’t about seeking the excitement of new discoveries or curating the perfect experience. There was only the rhythm of the city, the quiet in the mountains, and the people I met along the way. Because I had a clear purpose for this visit, the journey felt deep, not in terms of adventure (I mean, there was definitely some adventurous moments that included venomous pit vipers, insane motorbike rides, and mountain tea with a 104 year old tea man), but in how it invited me to sit with what was happening, without trying to shape it into something more. Just like a marriage deepens over time, my relationship with tea has become about understanding the nuances and embracing the depth of our partnership.
I realize much of this has to do with my own evolution. I’m different from who I was even just a few years ago. My commitment to growth, both personally and professionally, has deepened, with my tea practice being a steady guide through it all. It’s as if the layers of learning and experience are unfurling… I’m witnessing my Agony of the Leaf in real time.
Tea has always been more than just a beverage for me. It’s a practice, my constant companion, and an accurate reflection of my own journey. As I continue to mature, so does my relationship with tea, evolving into something more profound. This recent trip to Vietnam felt like a moment of realization: I’m no longer chasing dopamine hits, but embracing the work, knowing the benefits will come with commitment and time.
As the Autumn Equinox brings balance to the natural world, it reminds me to find balance in my own life. To pause, reflect, and continue integrating what I’ve learned, both in tea and in life. The journey, after all, is far from over.
It’s really only just begun.
