Stepping Into the Unknown Cup

Today’s tea journey took a swift turn and led me straight into uncharted waters—quite literally.

My tea of the day was simply labeled “Rooibos.” There was no description. No poetic promises of flavor or origin. No charming little backstory about ancient traditions or hand-picked leaves from a far-off hillside.

Just… rooibos.

And I realized, I had never actually tried rooibos before. I had never even heard of rooibos before and had no idea what type of plant it was. 

So Dear Reader, there I was in my kitchen, holding this mysterious tea bag like an unopened treasure map, thinking: “Well then. Today we leap.”

After brewing the tea, I timidly held the cup up to take a sniff, before stepping boldly into what I now call my tea-based adventuring phase of life — or, for short, TBA, which makes it sound very official.

On my new exploratory journey, as a tea-totaling sommelier in training, (TTST) in the school of (TBA), the first thing I noticed was that from the moment it began steeping, the water turned the most beautiful amber-red. It was earthy, rich and warm, like watching a sunset swirl itself into a mug.

As I took my first sip, I understood why rooibos is beloved across the world, (according to my research) even if it was completely new terrain to me: it tastes like the earth giving you a natural snack.

It a little challenging for me to fully describe the taste, though I have to say, they added a touch of mango into this blend, which I now know is my friend, so I was ready for it. The overall flavor was a hint of nuts and slightly sweet without being sugary. It was a comforting drink, coordinated in a way that bypasses your brain and goes straight to your bones.

It felt like discovering something ancient—something my body and soul recognized even if my mind didn’t. I felt timeless and in connection to the Earth.  Like the earth Earth, ancient, primal, Mother Nature kind of vibe. I imagined myself drinking this tea hundreds of years ago in other lifetimes. 

The Origin Story I Didn’t Know I Needed

Later on, I looked it up because curiosity is a big part of my spiritual practice.

Rooibos comes from South Africa’s Cedarberg mountains. It’s been used for generations as a soothing, mineral-rich, caffeine-free tea.

It carries the energy of the earth, the sun, and the wind that whistles through the red soil where it grows. This aspect is a lot of what I've pondering lately with my daily tea ritual - To make tea, one must use the element of fire to boil the water. Then of course, water is the next element, followed by the tea leaves, from the element of earth and as the tea swirls in the water, steam rises from the cup with a beautiful aroma tied to the element of air. Then as I sip the tea, the four elements combine into the spirit of the experience, uniting me with all of the natural elements of the earth. It is a deeply soulful communication and experience when connecting to the alchemical ritual and rhythm. 

Rooibos is naturally high in antioxidants and supports circulation, skin health, and calm digestion. It's is known for stamina, nourishment and helping to balance the root chakra — the center of safety, and belonging. 

My Tea Time Takeaway...

Drinking this tea with zero expectations felt strangely empowering.

There was a kind of magic in not knowing what was coming — a reminder of how rarely we let ourselves be surprised anymore. I didn’t control it, research it first online, or pre-define the experience. I just let the tea reveal itself.

And in doing so, I remembered something... Not all spiritual expansion happens in grand moments. Sometimes it happens in little moments when you let go and open up, even to a tiny amber cup of tea you’d never tried before.

Trying something new expands us. It reminds us that we’re still explorers, still curious, still open to discovering delights we didn’t even know existed.

That’s what rooibos taught me today. As I finished the last sip, I felt this message settle in... “Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Sometimes the unknown is just what you need.”

Here’s to new experiences, brave sipping, and the simple courage it takes to try something unfamiliar.

With warmth, humor and deep intention, your tea-totaling sommelier,
Kala 

Kala Ambrose
Wisdom Teacher, Intuitive Interior Designer & Oracle of Energy
https://www.exploreyourspirit.com/

Thank you for joining me here on this journey . Please share this newsletter with others whom you think might benefit from the information.