Brother Anthony of Taizé: The English Poet Who Became a Tea Sage

Frère Anthony: The Voice of Korean Tea for the World

It is rare for a Western figure to become a definitive authority in a thousand-year-old Asian tradition. Yet, this is the remarkable feat of Brother Anthony of Taizé (An Son-jae). Today, in the Maison Boseong Chronicles, we pay tribute to the man who has dedicated his life to translating the soul of Korean tea for the entire world.

From England to the Monasteries of Korea

Born in England and a member of the ecumenical community of Taizé, Brother Anthony moved to Korea in 1980. Although he initially came to teach literature, he fell in love with the stillness of the mountains and, above all, the "Way of Tea" (Chado). For him, tea is not merely a drink; it is liquid poetry.

Translator of the Invisible

Brother Anthony has accomplished a monumental task by translating the classic texts of Korean tea masters, such as the famous monk Chou-ui. Thanks to him, we understand that Korean tea does not seek formal perfection—as seen in Japan—but rather simplicity and freedom. "Tea is the friend of solitude, but also the purest bond between two souls," he often writes.

The Philosophy of Tea at Maison Boseong

This vision shared by Brother Anthony—a tea without artifice, close to nature—is exactly what we stand for at Maison Boseong. We believe, as he does, that a cup of tea is a sanctuary of peace in a world that moves too fast.

To meditate like a sage: Brew our Wild Mountain Tea, the variety that most closely captures the spirit of the ancient monasteries.

The pure gesture: Use our Ceramic Ceremonial Teapot to find the stillness and focus so dear to Brother Anthony.

A Bridge Between Cultures

Brother Anthony reminds us that tea is a universal language. By drinking a tea from Boseong, you are not just tasting leaves; you are participating in a conversation that spans centuries and continents.