I've come to believe recently that the time we spend outside of our studios is just as important as the time we spend inside our studios. Those late night sessions are great for getting stuff done, but we need life experience to fuel our work in the first place.
Meet John. He owns a little slice of Zen called TeaSmith in East London. I've spent a lot of time sat at the counter, brewing my silly schemes over pots of green teas, oolong teas, white teas and many more I couldn't begin to explain to you. In fact, it's the explanation bit where the staff really come into their own, hitting you with their dizzying knowledge of the different properties ascribed to each kind. Perhaps you're hungover and need jump-starting? A bowl of 'Matcha' will do the trick. Maybe you're new to the game and want to start with something neutral? The 'Wuyi Dark Rock' went down a treat with a hesitant friend of mine who said it tasted 'like toast'.
The surroundings are as captivating as the tea. Sitting at the wooden bar, the rising steam draws your eye to the exposed beams of the ceiling, the soft clinking of ceramic in the background reminding you of a steeping infusion. There's even a gallery space downstairs, showcasing the work of artists, sculptors and photographers.
It's very reasonably priced too- £3.50 doesn't get you much in this city, but in TeaSmith it gets you several helpings of your chosen weapon, enough to satisfy the thirstiest aficionado.
And you thought it was 'just' tea......
What you need to know:
-TeaSmith is at
6 Lamb Street
London
E1 6EA
(nearest tube station is Liverpool Street, the shop is in the Spitalfields complex).
-Visit www.teasmith.co.uk for more details.
