Green tea has been consumed for thousands of years in China and many other cultures in Asia from Japan to the Saudi Arabia.
In recent years, its popularity in Western countries had grown exponentially where black tea was more customarily served.

Although there are many types of green tea, they all originate from the same plant. Differences, in climate, location, harvesting and processing create the unique varieties grown.

Over the last 20 years, green tea has gained popularity because of the numerous touted health benefits attributed to the drink.
Green tea has been subjected to massive amounts of scientific and medical scrutiny over claims of lower chances for heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Anecdotal evidence also supports that regular consumption of brewed green tea leaves may aid in the suppression of appetite and there fore may be useful in weight loss and management.

Data is still being gathered to support or refute those claims, but physicians and scientist alike do admit that green tea provides an above average amount of antioxidants and that aspect alone may indeed aid in improvement of cardiac function among regular green tea drinkers.

Green tea has also bee reported to aid in general digestive function, in treating neurological and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

Founded by the husband and wife team of Mona and Herbert Hyman, “The Coffee Bean”, as it is affectionately known by regulars, is noted for their small café-type feel and quality of products despite their growing franchise-type store status.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary in September of 2008, The Coffee Bean has hundreds of locations all over Los Angeles and Southern California as well as may other major cities on the west coast.

Recently, franchises have been added in Hawaii and various major cities throughout Southeast Asia  in addition to their other international locations in Mexico, Korea, Israel, the Philippines and the Middle East.

Despite popular belief, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was the first coffee store to introduce and trademark “The Original Ice Blended Coffee” drinks over twenty years ago, which in effect started the entire blended/flavored coffee drink craze which is now so commonplace.

The Coffee Beans’ ingenious idea unfortunately has been the victim of countless imitators over the years, some of which garnered more popularity and success that the original drink that inspired them.

One of the favorite perks among frequent Coffee Bean goers is that the chain offers completely free Wifi service to anyone in close proximity to a store and for the convenience of their customers, have added several full service and limited menu outlets to Southern California Ralph’s grocery stores and supermarkets.

Since majority of cups used are light in color and the refuse leaves are dark, this inherent contrast in itself has a meaning.
The cup, which is often white or a light color to aid in interpretation, is often denoted as  “good” or positive and holds affirmative connotations for that reading.

While the dark colored tea leaves can be construed as “bad” or having a darker, more sinister meaning for the drinker or person being “read”
Symbols can be anything from a cloud, to a car, to a bell, to a dog and be taken quite literally as “what you see is what is meant”.

However, two or more images can be present representing a more complex idea or concept in the subject’s subconscious. Images appearing close together may be a related thought, while tea leaf symbols spaced far apart in the cup may be completely independent and one may have nothing to do with the other.

The closer the symbol appears to the top of the rim, the more likely that the outcome of that reading will occur soon.
Most symbols are can be read to have a good or bad connotation and are likened to Tarot readings in this regard.

The art of tea leaf reading is highly subjective differs from culture to culture and depends on the, the accuracy, skill and prerogative of the psychic or spiritual advisor.

Most times, in tea leaf readings, the a broad loose leaf variety of tea like Earl Grey or Jasmine for ease in reading the results The person being “read” would be asked to add a spoonful of loose leaf tea into a teapot for steeping or directly into a teacup of waiting hot water. Some advisors ask that you stir the tea leaves themselves before adding to water to impart their energy on the leaves. The tea is poured by the advisor and stirred by the person being “read” and at the same time if often asked to concentrate on the problem or situation that brings them to advisor’s care.

Once the tea has cooled, the person receiving the reading sips gingerly at the tea while continuing to ponder the question at hand. Once the tea has been consumed down to about 1/4 cup, the tea is customarily swirled clockwise there times to get the tea leaves in a state of suspension. The remaining contents are dumped onto a waiting napkin and or saucer. It’s those remnants of leaves stuck to the bottom and sides of the cup are the portions to be read by the advisor.

In order to interpret the findings, simply allow your mind to wander and see what shapes and symbols are visible. Breaking the cup mentally into 12 segments…like the hands on a clock allows for discernment of time with your predictions.

Once you understand the basic principles behind tea leaf reading, it can become easy and enjoyable pastime.

Not may supplies are necessary for your own tea leaf reading adventure.
A good broad loose leafed tea…not the commercially sold kind that comes in teabags.

These tea leaves are large enough that once steeped the wont disintegrate in water and will still be viewable to the Reader after brewing. Earl Gray is a very popular variety to be used because of its universal appeal and pretty wide availability.

The other item needed is a wide rimmed cup, bowl or other type of vessel dedicated to this purpose.
Sometimes professional mystics and spiritual healers will have cups painted with special symbols according to their slant on the tradition.
(A popular cup is one with the twelve signs of the zodiac painted on…leaves landing on a certain section of the cup denotes action in a certain “house” or Zodiac sign.)

The other supplies needed are a spoon designated only for this use, a saucer, and napkin, to catch the tea leavings for interpretation. The other extremely valuable tool you will need is an interpretation guide…or a listing of symbols to help you translate the meaning of the leaves.

There are several free online sources dedicated to tea leaf reading as well as several printed publications available for purchase online and at popular book outlets.

Someone seeing an airplane shape in their brew might be seeking advice on an upcoming business trip, or that same shape may be a symbol for travel and excitement waiting to be had.

The image of a book swirling around in your tea may represent the search for deeper knowledge, a fish may mean the pursuit of spiritual knowledge, a mountain may represent a challenge to surpass or a bird may be the harbinger of good fortune soon to come.

Conversely, images that are directly contradictory to what’s happening in the subjects’ life may imply conflict in the person’s thinking. That plane may signify your unwillingness to travel or experience change.

Also to consider, the size of the symbol may indicate the importance of the subject in the person’s life.
Sometimes the positioning of the leaves in the cup can be another barometer for what the future holds, but the top or the rim of the cup almost always represents things that are happening or may be happening in the near future.

All attempts at interpretation are subject to the expertise and scrutiny of a psychic or spiritual professional.

This ancient art was reported to have been originally developed in Asian tea drinking countries.
However separate incidents of tea leaf reading have been recorded in Middle Eastern and Ancient Greek civilizations.

Numerous European countries such as Ireland, and England have garnered a huge tea leaf reading following and have spawned numerous writers and experts on the practice.

Many turn of the century English porcelain makers created beautiful tea services especially designed for the practice of prediction using tealeaves and other drinkable herbs and continue this practice to this very day.

Some African and Arab cultures also use this method to carry out their divination practices and it is also said that some in the Turkish culture have been known take part in similar prophetic ceremonies with coffee grounds.

Most cultures and religions that indulge in this activity have specially designed vessels or cups from which to do their readings. Also referred to by some as Tasseomancy or Tassology, tea leaf readings sometime involve swirling the contents and allowing them to settle before reading.

Some practitioners have a predetermined list of symbols that can be “read” in the random occurrences of tea leaves settling in the liquid. Regardless of method, the common factors necessary are always loose-leaf tea, water for steeping the brew and whatever kind of cup or container predetermined by the practitioner.

There are many tea leaf reading symbols and therefore they have to be premeditated. It is a very complicated matter although I do not believe in it I find it very interesting. Its history, and what really goes on, and why people believe it all.

There are a lot of symbols, actually. You would think there wouldn’t be much, but each means a different thing. For example the zebra means adventure especially overseas, wings mean messages, woman means pleasure and happiness, wolf means beware of jealous intrigues, unicorn means scandal, wasp means romantic problems, trees mean disappointment, but more than one tree is a lucky sign, toad means unexpected enemies, thimble means changes at home, sword means arguing or arguments, but a broken sword means victory over an enemy, tent means travel, star is a lucky sign, shark is danger of death, serpents represent spiteful enemies, rose represents popularity, shell means good news, fish means fortunate, fence means minor setbacks, eye means caution, envelope represents good news, fruit means prosperity and so much more.

I wonder how they came up with all of these tea leaf reading symbols. It’s not an easy deal I know some of these tea leaf reading symbols make sense but some of them I would never understand