relaxing = tea & incense time

What do you do to relax? I usually turn off the TV, put in a CD and listen to something like "Josh Groban" or "Jake Shimabukuro", read a book/magazine or look through a glossy cookbook. Since coming to Japan though, I've added a few new things to do. Burn incense, have tea.

Living in Hawaii, I rarely had tea and rarely drank anything hot for that matter. Everything was iced this or that or just water. But one thing that I noticed in Japan is that a lot of women drink tea. All kinds of tea. I guess this is why my addiction to buying cookbooks is accompanied by buying all kinds of tea (among other addictions...). I had previously written about BOH tea here.

Well, while roaming an import grocery store this past weekend, I found 2 more flavored teas by BOH. Lime with Ginger & Lychee with Rose. Lime with Ginger has a very light lime-citrus taste, the spice of ginger comes to "zap" you awake towards the end of your cup. Lychee with Rose was also nice. The lychee fragrance is very delicate and doesn't overpower the rose flavor of the tea. They were both really nice cups of tea.

A little off this subject, my parents (who live on Oahu) are now travelling with a group in Okinawa, they landed in Osaka and left for Okinawa over the weekend. Although we didn't get to visit with them (you should see their itinerary!), my mom sent some cookies and coffee for my in-laws, my host-family & of course, some for us!
The cookies she sent to us were from the Honolulu Cookie Company. These shortbread cookies have pieces of dried fruit, or a coffee bean, some are dipped in milk or white chocolate. I like these cookies, but my favorite is the "king" of the dipped cookies, Big Island Candies. Big Island candies was the first in the Hawaiian Islands to come up with the idea to dip shortbread cookies in different chocolates (they have a dark chocolate dipped cookie!) When my grandmother lived on the Big Island (the island of Hawaii), we used to religiously stop at Big Island Candies to "stock up". Now that she lives on the island of Oahu (the island with Waikiki), we don't get to the Big Island as often. If only Big Island Candies would lower their shipping rates. (hint, hint!!) Anyway, having tea with a little sweet treat is definitely a way to relax and just "veg".

Another way I like to relax is to burn a little incense. Incense is called O-ko or senko here. Senko is usually what you see at Buddhist temples and is burned to "take your prayers up" through the smoke from the incense. O-ko is burned more for relaxation and fragrance (or that's how I understand the two). I looked on the internet to see how incense was made: they are often made with essential oils, plant matter and intended to release a fragrance for religion, therapy or aesthetics. There are different forms and uses for incense, coil shaped-the mosquito repellants, cone shaped, cored sticks-these have a piece of bamboo or sandalwood in the center and solid-sticks-these have no wood in the center but are made entirely of the incense materials. If you do try burning incense as a way to relax, please remember to watch where you burn it so that you won't have a fire on your hands. Also, try to have a window open, so that you won't breathe in the smoke from the incense. Still, it is a way to relax and clear your mind of things. I really enjoy the citrus-y and flowery fragrances such as freesia, lavender, rose and orange.

If you'd like, it would be nice to hear about how you like to relax.

Have a nice week.