Just over 240 years have passed since the Sons of Liberty defiantly tossed an entire shipment of tea into the Boston harbor. And so began the Revolutionary War. In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, John AdamsĀ wrote letters to his wife thatĀ professed his love for tea, but admitted his reluctant switch over to coffee. Apparently, tea had become unpatriotic and lost its appeal. Thus, coffee began itās reign.
Needless to say, we have a complicated relationship with tea in the States.
But regardless of where itās being consumed, tea stands apart from coffee for a variety of reasons. One of the most interesting, perhaps, is the idea of āritualā that seems to follow tea around like a pre-requisite. It may be an echo of rituals across the globe. It might also be the very nature of tea – the time it takes to brew and the variety of flavors that lend itself to a more sophisticatedĀ appreciation than a cup of coffee.
We could write an entire book on all of the ancient rituals surrounding tea. Instead, let’sĀ explore the rituals that exist today that are oftenĀ left overlooked:
1. The Childrenās Tea Party
Youād be hard pressed to find a six year old who doesnāt know what a tea party is, let alone haveĀ organizedĀ one themselves. Itās almost a phenomenon – what other social event do kids regularly orchestrate on their own? Childhood tea parties are not only incredibly adorable, they are also surprisinglyĀ well thought out. The table is set, āguestsā gather around, (imaginary)Ā tea is poured and sometimes cookies even make an appearance. Thank you Ye Olde English childrenās storiesĀ for keeping tea parties alive.
2. The Morning Cup of Tea
First things first, let’s be clear: tea in the morning requires an entirely different processĀ than coffee. A (good) morning cup of tea requires that you heat water, steep your leaves, and wait. And waitā¦Itās kind of a zen experience, having to wait for your caffeine. Even if you decide to go to a cafe rather than brew at home, you never quite escape the patience that tea insists.
3. The Iced Black Tea and Lemonade
Or, as most people call them, Arnold Palmers (we have our own spin on that from National Lemonade Day). This drink has made a name for itselfĀ over the last several years. It started with a golf hero, but itās fair to assume that few of the 20-somethingās that regularly order the well-known beverageĀ have a clue who the man actually is. The ritual lives in routine, and itās always refreshing to know tea can seamlessly transition into warmer months and trendier libations.
4. The “Sick Day” Tea
āYou should drink some tea.ā How many times have you heard that advice when you had a runny nose or sore throat? Itās such common sense at this point, and yet you canāt get away from the suggestion. There is a conception, and a valid one, that tea has healing properties. We arenāt doctors, but the doctors we know tell us this is more or less true. Now just imagine that moment after a long day of work and a nasty head cold when you take your first sip of piping hot chamomile tea with lemon, breathing in the steam. It truly feels like you’re drinking a magical healing elixir.
5. The Pot of Tea
This always feels like a big one. A full pot of tea seems to separate the casual drinkers from the die hard. Tea, typically, is a sipping drink. A pot of tea is an hour of your life that you have dedicated to tea (and usually something else… Weāre not crazy, we realize youāre probably reading a book or working on a paper too). In that moment, when you fill your pot or order a full pot at the neighborhood cafe, youāve established yourself as a real ātea drinker.ā In our books, thatās a pretty awesome commitment.
We invite you to join usĀ andĀ share your favorite tea ritual.
Tell us. Share with us. Join in and help paint the picture of tea.