In the wee morning hours
I lay out in front of me
A traditional Japanese set
To prepare matcha tea

I take a deep breath
As I reflect on the grace and beauty
Peace and harmony
Of a matcha tea ceremony

I think of the generations of families
That harvest each leaf by hand
Selecting only the youngest parts
That had been grown in near darkness

To then go through a laborious process
Hand milling, destemming, deveining
Deepening my...