Meditation with Tea:
A Chinese Tea Ceremony for Stillness

In this small-group experience at Teasthetic in NYC, welcome tea, guided meditation, and a Chinese tea ceremony unfold together, helping you taste tea with a quieter body and clearer attention.

Guided by Mengyan Gong, Teasthetic's founder and tea artist, this experience draws on the long relationship between tea and meditation in Chinese culture. You do not need prior experience with either tea or meditation; the session is gently guided, with room to settle, breathe, and let the tea become clearer in a quiet way.

Duration 90 minutes	Group Size Limited to 8 guests	Experience Level Open to all levels
Tea Welcome tea and ceremony tea	Meditation Seating Cushions and chairs provided	Location 89 5th Ave, Suite 701, NYC

Upcoming Sessions

All Events

Jun 28

Meditation with Tea: A Chinese Tea Ceremony for Stillness

Begin your Sunday with a Zen meditation followed by a Chinese tea ceremony, cultivating mindfulness and awakening your senses.

See Upcoming Sessions

What Happens In Meditation With Tea

Welcome tea

We begin with welcome tea. Tea aroma and the act of drinking help the body slow down, gather attention, and prepare for meditation.

Guided meditation

Mengyan will guide a short meditation rooted in Chan, the Chinese Buddhist tradition that later became known in Japan as Zen. The meditation is accessible to beginners, offering time to settle into stillness before returning to tea.

Chinese tea ceremony

After meditation, we return to the tea stage for a Chinese tea ceremony in noble silence. Mengyan will brew and serve selected Chinese tea through multiple infusions, inviting you to notice aroma, texture, flavor, and aftertaste with a quieter body and clearer attention.

Guests sit on meditation cushions during guided meditation at Teasthetic.

What You Will Experience

Tea and meditation are natural companions. You will experience how tea can support stillness, and how stillness can make the beauty of tea more vivid:

Tea aroma and drinking as a way to settle the body
Noble silence as a space for attention
Guided meditation that opens the senses before tasting tea
A Chinese tea ceremony experienced without conversation
Aroma, texture, flavor, and aftertaste becoming clearer as we slow down
A direct feeling for the idea that Chan and tea share one taste

Meditation cushions arranged on the wooden floor at Teasthetic.

Hot water is poured from a white teapot into a cup, with steam rising.

A hand places a white teacup on a saucer during a Chinese tea ceremony.

Who Is It For

Meditation with Tea is for guests who want to slow down and experience tea before putting it into words. Choose this experience if you:

Want a quieter, more contemplative tea experience
Are curious about the connection between Chinese tea, Chan meditation, and attention
Want to taste tea without needing to speak or use tasting terms
Are new to meditation and would like a gentle introduction
Simply want a quiet Sunday morning in the city

No prior tea or meditation experience is needed. Cushions and chairs are available, and the session is guided from beginning to end.

A Note From Mengyan

I design Meditation with Tea around the deep connection between Chinese tea and meditation. Tea helps the mind become clear and quiet for sitting, while meditation opens the senses, allowing tea to reveal itself more fully. My hope is that you leave having tasted more of what tea can hold, and with a sense of calm attention you can carry into daily life.

Mengyan Gong is the founder of Teasthetic and a New York-based tea artist. She has studied Chinese tea since 2015 and is a student of Li Shuyun, one of China's most innovative tea masters. Since 2022, Mengyan has hosted tea ceremonies, workshops, tastings, and cultural events in New York, sharing Chinese tea as a living practice of beauty, attention, and connection.

Mengyan Gong speaks beside a tea stage during a Chinese tea ceremony at Teasthetic.

Guest Words

"More than just a tea shop, it’s a place to experience being fully present with oneself through the practice of tea appreciation.
As a Zen meditation instructor, I strongly recommend learning from Teasthetic, as they go beyond just superficial tea tasting or calming meditations to help you find wisdom in daily life."

David Listen, Chan meditation teacher

FAQ

Meditation with Tea brings guided meditation and Chinese tea ceremony together so you can experience the idea that Chan and tea share one taste.
No. The meditation is guided, short, and accessible, and we will guide you through the tea ceremony as well. You only need to arrive with curiosity and a willingness to slow down.
Yes. After the welcome tea begins, guests are invited to remain in noble silence through the meditation and tea ceremony. The quiet is meant to give more space to breath, sensation, and the changing qualities of the tea. There will be time for questions and reflection at the end, and sharing is always optional.
If it is comfortable for you, we recommend using the meditation cushions provided. Chairs are also available if you prefer or need one. Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended.
Meditation with Tea takes place at Teasthetic, 89 5th Ave, Suite 701, New York, NY 10003.
Each regular public session is limited to 8 guests, so the experience stays quiet, spacious, and personal.
Chan is the Chinese Buddhist tradition from which Japanese Zen developed. We use Chan to more accurately describe this lineage.