In Chinese culture, the phrase “柴米油盐酱醋茶” (firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea) is a poetic way of saying “the basics of daily life.” Yet among these practical items, one stands out: tea. Unlike the others, tea isn’t a necessity for survival—but it is a necessity for the soul. So why is “tea” included—and why is it perhaps the...