It is getting harder to wake up in the chilly mornings, and I cannot wait to have that first cup of tea to warm me up. I normally drink a cup of hot water to adjust my stomach, and then do my meditation, when I can look up and see the sky. After that I have a cup of Matcha latte or Sencha tea as a second cup. I have quite surprised myself by having regular Matcha lattes at this time, but I found that a straight Matcha shot on an empty stomach was just a bit too strong. So a gentle Matcha latte with Bonsoy milk is just the right thing for me.

Everyone has a different morning routine to start a day. I walk to my Tea Studio, and on the way pass by a flower shop. Normally at that time the owner is putting masses of plants and flowers out in front of the shop. We wave to each other or sometimes talk a bit. He is a kind and gentle person, and his flowers make me happy. They also keep me in touch with the seasons as they change through the months. A couple of days ago he started to put out Christmas plants!

I love gardening, even though I don’t have a proper garden here in London. When I was in Japan, I used to look after my own little garden. It was wonderfully therapeutic, touching the soft warm soil, though I haven’t done much gardening in winter time. Instead of gardening, I found it is also wonderfully therapeutic making a cup of Matcha tea, using the traditional bamboo whisk, and then enjoying those amazing flavours. As you probably know, Matcha has lots of Vitamin C and Anti-oxidants, which gives me a strong feeling of contentment, knowing I am having such a healthy drink in the morning.