Mesostic tea

after Lu Tong

the first cup of tea
breaks the silence

the second cup of tea
wets my thirst for it

the third cup of tea
gets me in

the fourth cup of tea
gives a wee buzz

the fifth cup of tea
sees me right

the sixth cup of tea
tea’s me up

aye, the seventh cup
that’s the one
that’s the real tea

tea-prints with mesostic name poems, from an ongoing

series, begun in 2004.

Each print features a tea spill, and the imprint of a cup –

a tea-moon – from which the tea was drunk.

Some of the teas come from Imperial Teas (Lincoln)

and East Teas (London).

On the road north one tea was drunk and one tea print

made for each of the 53 stations. The teas are listed

below, along with the whiskeys we drank.

A selection of tea-prints were exhibited at HICA

Loch Ruthven, You'll have had your tea? (2009).

Some tea-prints are available from Ingleby Gallery.

the road north, teas and whiskies

1. Edo (Edinburgh): Gabalong Black & Nikka White

2. Ueno (Falkland): Tie Guan Yin (Monkey on the Mountain) & Auchentoshan

3. Soka (Kinloch-Rannoch): Heather tea & The Blend of Nikka

4. Muro-no-Yashima (Isle of Boreray): Wuyi Red Robe Oolong &  ***

5. Mt. Nikko (Slioch): Curly winged Silver Dragon & Nikka Pure Malt Red

6. Toshogu (Achnabreck): Buddha's Hand Foshou Hon Cha & Isle of Arran

7. Mt. Kurokami (Killin & Acharn): Tea of Life & Tomatin

8. Kurobane (Loch Insh): Goomtee White Ball Darjeeling & Dalwhinnie

9. Nasu (Monreith): Moroccan Mint & Bladnoch

10. Unganji (Carbeth): Summer Green Tea & ***

11. Sesshoseki (Tingwall): Yunnan Imperial & Nikka from the Barrel

12. Ashino (Aberfeldy): Emperor Jiaqing (Old Tree Phoenix Oolong) & Ledaig (1993)

13. Shirakawa no Seki (Sma' Glen): Oriental Beauty - Bai Hao & Glenturret (10 years old)

14. Kagenuma (St Fillans Hill): Jasmine Hei Cha & Glenturret (8 years old)

15. Sukagawa (Dalchonzie & Dunira ): Yonnan & Tullibardine (1993)

16. Kurozuka (Ossian's Cave) Liquorice pink           & Aberfeldy

17. Shinobu (Kilmartin): Yun Ti Kuan Yin Ta & Islay Mist

18. Mt. Maruyama (Dun Carloway): Himifuuki Japanese black tea & Aberlour (10 years old)

19. Iizuka (Munlochy): Osmanthus Black & Glenmorangie

20. Abumizuri (Glenelg): Hei Cha Hunan Dark Tea & An Cnoc

21. Takekuma (Dunkeld & Birnam): Liquorice pink & Edradour (Dougie Maclean)

22. Miyagi (Crarae): Master Wang's 'Old Peach Nut' – Guan Dong & Glen Scotia

23. Tsubo no Ishibumi (Glen Lyon): Silver Tips & Deanston

24. Sue-no-Matsuyama (Sand Chapel, Gruinard Bay): Black Spiral & Penderyn

25. Shiogama Myojin (Dunsinane): Grasshopper Oolong & Super Nikka

26. Ojima (Isle of Luing): Buddha Mt Dao Ren & Yamazaki

27. Ungozenji (Sandaig): Huiming Temple Gold & Speyburn

28. Zuiganji (Jupiter Artland): Keemun Black Tiger & Glenkinchie

29. Hiraizumi (Isle of Hoy): Puerh (Yunnan Chitsu Pingcha) & Highland Park

30. Izumi (Dunstaffnage & Beregonium): Black Mao Hou Monkey Fur & Ledaig (1990)

31. Shitomae (Ben Dorain): Iron Buddha Oolong & Nikka All Malt

32. Dewa (Huntly): Peaceful Monkey King & Glenfiddich

33. Obanazawa (St Weems): Rose Flavoured hei Cha dark tea & Aberlour

34. Ryushakuji (Outlandia): Rou Gui Oolong & Dew of Ben Nevis

35. Shiraito (Falls of Bruar): Black Ruby & Edradour (1997)

36. Mt. Haguroyama (Schiehallion): Little Dragon Long Jing & Tullibardine (1992)

37. Mt. Gassan (Loch Etive) Yunnan Imperial & Springbank

38. Tsuru-ga-oka (Glen Fruin): Liu An Guapian & Nikka Pure Black Malt

39. Noin (Isle of Raasay) Ali Shan Taiwan Oolong (10yr) & Poit Dubh

40. Nezu (Isle of Bernerary): Assam Night Jasmine & Mac Na Mara

41. Komagaeeshi (Rhenigidale): Jasmine Chung Hao & Tobermory

42. Kurobe (Inverianvie): Jun Shan Golden Needle & Old Pulteney

43. Mt. Unohana (Loch Ruthven): Hong Shui Red Oolong & Laphroig

44. Komatsu (Dunadd): Japanese Cherry Tea & Caol Ila

45. Mt. Shirane (The Quirang): King of Ginseng & Talisker

46. Yamanka (Loch Maree): Phoenix Honey Orchid B & Ardbeg

47. Zenshoji (Stonypath & Brownsbank): Iron Warrior Monk Tie Luo Han & Glen Dronach

48. Shiogoshi (Loch Eilt): Gyokuro Organic & Cú Dhub

49. Eiheiji (Langais): Rou Gui & Té Bheag

50. Fukui (Kilmiddlefern): Wintertime Tea of Life & Oban

51. Tsuruga (Tarskavaig): Keemun Black Tiger & Bruichladdich

52. Iro (Loch Ailort): Summertime Tea of Life & Isle of Jura

53. Ogaki (the hidden gardens): various & Gean brandy

54. Epilogue: Keemun Hao Ya & Nikka White

AF & KC