I loved this piece thank you! My partner and I both follow many of the customs of your parents … tea in the morning and last thing at night(although decaff is de rigour nowadays) … love the tea history too, it’s so important to reflect on the cultural aspects of social and political history … how something so ‘harmless’ as tea can spark wars and colonial expansion
so nice to hear that you and your partner also have tea in the morning and at night! I was also surprised at how tea, so seemingly innocuous, had so much violence and intrigue in its past. Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts, Jeff!
While I enjoyed reading your words, NOTHING would induce me to accept tea dribbled from a pipe.
The ritual of tea-making is as important as the potion itself. I have been known to travel with a minuscule teapot, though lately a fine sieve and my travel cup have done sterling service in its place.
The first tea of the day is invariably tempered by milk and honey, while that in the afternoon is often taken weak and black (as is the one accompanying lunch). Like your mother, I will from time to time make a thick syrupy masala chai, though mine never tastes quite so delicious as that on the streets of Jaipur.
As to the tea itself, my brews encompass my own version of Lady Grey (for the making of which I grow my own cornflowers and dry blood orange zest) along with various tisanes gathered from the garden.
I don’t think a pipe could replace the pleasures (bordering on witchcraft) of concocting my brews.
haha I think I reached a similar conclusion by the end of the piece—I 100% agree with you that the ritual of tea-making is as important as tea itself and such a huge part of the pleasure one derives from it! Your miniature teapot sounds so cute and useful, and I love your descriptions of the teas you make—your Lady Grey sounds absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing, India—maybe it's not quite witchcraft, but tea-making is definitely a kind of magic!
LOL I agree, if tea is "making tea is love language" as Ramya so beautifully puts it, then it would lose all it's beau-tea if it came from our faucets.
This is so beautifully written and an enjoyable read! I loved learning a little about the history of tea and have some new recipes to try for the perfect tea time accompaniments 🫖
I am a long time tea lover and have written widely in the subject including a book called Cooking with Tea which explores how to use tea in sweeet and savory dishes, a pioneering book (published in 2000)....have a look.
I was born & raised in America, my husband was born in Myanmar/Rangoon Burma 1945. We married in 1984. He introduced me to Chai tea & I have been drinking it & enjoying Indian tea ever since. Thank you for sharing this soul making data this was an exceptional read
I just finished reading The Monk of Mokha with its history of the coffee industry, and today stumbled in your post with an engaging history of tea. Loved the synchronicity and also your writing both about tea and Oscar Wilde. Thanks for a good read.
Wow! Ramya, this is my most favorite piece of all the pieces you wrote, if I may say! I want to read it again and again and experience all kinds of teas you mentioned.
I love your quote from Oscar Wilde. It is also one of my favorite quotes. Thank you as always for a wonderful article.
Utterly delightful essay on tea and a brief history of its development. I am not a tea drinker myself but I do enjoy Rooibos, a close relative from South Africa and a variety of herbal teas whimsically termed tisanes if you are French. Words can colour, defend, advertise, create and make desirable almost anything and your essay made tea seem like the elixir of the gods.
This is such a sweet comment, thank you so much! Rooibos is lovely, and I keep meaning to try more tisanes! I'm so glad you enjoyed reading, and it's so nice to hear that my words persuaded you towards tea just a bit.
Did someone say Rooibos, t's my most favourite tea, being South African mean Rooibos is a part of our cultural, a daily ritual in many families across Mzansi.
If you enjoyed reading this essay as much as I did, then might I interest you in an article I wrote about Rooibos in fact this was my first post on Substack and the first of many in my tea series, here's a link to the article when you get a chance make a cup of Rooibos and enjoy it while you read here: https://yourfavourite4eyedguy.substack.com/p/international-rooibos-day?r=75dxrl
This makes me want to run to the kettle! Thank you for sharing the interesting history of tea, from a fellow tea lover 💕
thank you so much for reading and for leaving a comment!
Thank you for sharing this. Wonderfully whimsical, yet educational and touching. I am glad the Spirit moved you to write this.
Thank you so much, Tim! So happy you enjoyed!
I loved this piece thank you! My partner and I both follow many of the customs of your parents … tea in the morning and last thing at night(although decaff is de rigour nowadays) … love the tea history too, it’s so important to reflect on the cultural aspects of social and political history … how something so ‘harmless’ as tea can spark wars and colonial expansion
so nice to hear that you and your partner also have tea in the morning and at night! I was also surprised at how tea, so seemingly innocuous, had so much violence and intrigue in its past. Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts, Jeff!
While I enjoyed reading your words, NOTHING would induce me to accept tea dribbled from a pipe.
The ritual of tea-making is as important as the potion itself. I have been known to travel with a minuscule teapot, though lately a fine sieve and my travel cup have done sterling service in its place.
The first tea of the day is invariably tempered by milk and honey, while that in the afternoon is often taken weak and black (as is the one accompanying lunch). Like your mother, I will from time to time make a thick syrupy masala chai, though mine never tastes quite so delicious as that on the streets of Jaipur.
As to the tea itself, my brews encompass my own version of Lady Grey (for the making of which I grow my own cornflowers and dry blood orange zest) along with various tisanes gathered from the garden.
I don’t think a pipe could replace the pleasures (bordering on witchcraft) of concocting my brews.
haha I think I reached a similar conclusion by the end of the piece—I 100% agree with you that the ritual of tea-making is as important as tea itself and such a huge part of the pleasure one derives from it! Your miniature teapot sounds so cute and useful, and I love your descriptions of the teas you make—your Lady Grey sounds absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing, India—maybe it's not quite witchcraft, but tea-making is definitely a kind of magic!
LOL I agree, if tea is "making tea is love language" as Ramya so beautifully puts it, then it would lose all it's beau-tea if it came from our faucets.
This is so beautifully written and an enjoyable read! I loved learning a little about the history of tea and have some new recipes to try for the perfect tea time accompaniments 🫖
thank you so much, Avishya, I’m so glad you enjoyed reading!
I am a long time tea lover and have written widely in the subject including a book called Cooking with Tea which explores how to use tea in sweeet and savory dishes, a pioneering book (published in 2000)....have a look.
that book sounds right up my alley, thank you so much for sharing, Robert!
I’ve always been a tea lover. Thank you for such a lovely essay.
thank you, Colleen!
I was born & raised in America, my husband was born in Myanmar/Rangoon Burma 1945. We married in 1984. He introduced me to Chai tea & I have been drinking it & enjoying Indian tea ever since. Thank you for sharing this soul making data this was an exceptional read
it’s so sweet how your husband introduced you to chai! thank you so much for reading and for sharing your own tea experiences, Sharon!
I just finished reading The Monk of Mokha with its history of the coffee industry, and today stumbled in your post with an engaging history of tea. Loved the synchronicity and also your writing both about tea and Oscar Wilde. Thanks for a good read.
That sounds like a fascinating book—will have to check it out! Thank you so much for reading and for commenting, Valerie!
Everyone in my house likes their morning coffee - I’m still attached to tea - twice a day and I’ll have a coffee in there as well.
nice to know you enjoy your tea in a house of coffee-drinkers! thanks for reading!
Beautifully written, interesting history of a subject I never gave much thought; I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
thank you, Carola, so glad you enjoyed!
How lovely! I need to go and brew!
Thank you, Candace! ☕
As a fellow tea enthusiast, I found your exploration of tea’s history was both whimsical and enlightening!
aw thank you so much, Brittney!
Wow! Ramya, this is my most favorite piece of all the pieces you wrote, if I may say! I want to read it again and again and experience all kinds of teas you mentioned.
I love your quote from Oscar Wilde. It is also one of my favorite quotes. Thank you as always for a wonderful article.
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this week’s post!!
I was thinking about making myself a cup of tea BEFORE I read this article. Beautiful article and now I’m off to drink some tea!
thank you, Flora, I hope you enjoy your cup of tea! ☕
Utterly delightful essay on tea and a brief history of its development. I am not a tea drinker myself but I do enjoy Rooibos, a close relative from South Africa and a variety of herbal teas whimsically termed tisanes if you are French. Words can colour, defend, advertise, create and make desirable almost anything and your essay made tea seem like the elixir of the gods.
This is such a sweet comment, thank you so much! Rooibos is lovely, and I keep meaning to try more tisanes! I'm so glad you enjoyed reading, and it's so nice to hear that my words persuaded you towards tea just a bit.
Did someone say Rooibos, t's my most favourite tea, being South African mean Rooibos is a part of our cultural, a daily ritual in many families across Mzansi.
If you enjoyed reading this essay as much as I did, then might I interest you in an article I wrote about Rooibos in fact this was my first post on Substack and the first of many in my tea series, here's a link to the article when you get a chance make a cup of Rooibos and enjoy it while you read here: https://yourfavourite4eyedguy.substack.com/p/international-rooibos-day?r=75dxrl