The Art of Tea: Leading by Example, Cultivating Culture from Childhood

I began brewing Chaozhou Gongfu tea at the age of three, but my son, Wu Yimin, started even earlier—spontaneously mimicking adults and making tea at just 14 months old, before he was even two. This illustrates a fundamental truth: **"Actions speak louder than words; knowledge and practice must unite."** For thousands of years, the heart of Chinese cultural transmission has rested in the intimate bond between parents and children, particularly in those formative years before the age of six. What a child sees, hears, and experiences during this time becomes deeply imprinted on their character and habits, shaping the foundation of their entire life.

Before the age of six lies the golden period for establishing the roots of a person’s life.

As the English proverb goes: **"Monkey see, monkey do."** Children may not heed your lectures, but they will imitate your actions. If a home is filled with the fragrance of tea and natural etiquette, a child will absorb the refinement and wisdom of Chinese culture effortlessly.

Today, Wu Yimin is 18 years old. On June 11, 2023, he graduated from **Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA**, and has been admitted to **Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine**, where he will pursue a five-year degree in **Acupuncture and Tuina (Massage) Therapy**. Tea and Chinese medicine may seem like separate paths, but they share the same essence—both embody the principle of "harmony."Tea nurtures the mind, medicine heals the body, and the origin of it all may well trace back to the cultural seeds planted in childhood with that first cup of Gongfu tea.