Tea,
as we all know, is more than just a beverage, it’s a way of life. It satisfies
psychology, perception, and climate alike. It rejuvenates the body, fuels the
mind, and often lubricates conversations that might otherwise never have
happened. If coffee kick-starts ambition, tea sustains reflection.
As
a child, I saw tea as the daily alarm clock, served to all the male members of
the family while still in bed. Two cups, sometimes three, before sunrise! Once
they returned from office, the first thing that appeared was not a hug, not a
smile but a steaming cup of tea. Guests? Tea. Celebrations? Tea. Even grief
found a brief pause over a cup of tea. As children, we were sternly forbidden
from tasting it,warned that it might become “addictive.” Ironically, that very
ban made tea seem even more irresistible.
Every
ritual in our home came with an inevitable tea break, as though the universe
itself couldn’t proceed without that sacred pause. Growing up in such an
environment, I naturally developed a fondness for tea, what started as
fascination soon became devotion. College days only reinforced the bond: every
post-lecture chat, every long evening of dreams and dilemmas began with the
familiar clink of cups.
Later,
in professional life, tea became the silent participant in every meeting.
Whether it was a crisis discussion, a brainstorming session, or a casual
exchange of nothingness tea was there, uniting us in common comfort. Even the
most heated debates somehow mellowed with each sip perhaps tea doesn’t just
brew leaves, it brews patience.
Now,
with the generational shift from Gen Z to Gen Alpha, the story of tea seems to
be… well, steeping in change. The new-age beverage scene is full of green teas,
bubble teas, matcha lattes, and other complicated cousins. People now discuss
“aroma profiles” and “infusion times” as if auditioning for a role in MasterChef.
Starbucks has turned tea from a household ritual into a lifestyle statement complete
with hashtags and loyalty points.
And
yet, somewhere between the froth and the foam, the simplicity of chai is
slipping away. The cup that once symbolized togetherness is now an accessory
for Instagram reels. But perhaps, it’s only natural times change, tastes
evolve.
Still,
for those of us who grew up hearing the whistle of a kettle rather than the
buzz of a coffee machine, tea remains eternal. It’s not just a drink; it’s a
pause button for life. It’s the quiet warmth of dawn, the laughter shared under
a tin roof during rain, the comfort in a clay cup during winter chill.
So,
here’s to tea our humble philosopher in a cup. May it always remind us that
some of life’s finest moments don’t need Wi-Fi, whipped cream, or Wi-Fi-enabled
kettles, just hot water, a few leaves, and a heart willing to slow down.
BTea, as we all know, is more than just a beverage, it’s a way of life. It satisfies psychology, perception, and climate alike. It rejuvenates the body, fuels the mind, and often lubricates conversations that might otherwise never have happened. If coffee kick-starts ambition, tea sustains reflection.
As
a child, I saw tea as the daily alarm clock, served to all the male members of
the family while still in bed. Two cups, sometimes three, before sunrise! Once
they returned from office, the first thing that appeared was not a hug, not a
smile but a steaming cup of tea. Guests? Tea. Celebrations? Tea. Even grief
found a brief pause over a cup of tea. As children, we were sternly forbidden
from tasting it,warned that it might become “addictive.” Ironically, that very
ban made tea seem even more irresistible.
Every
ritual in our home came with an inevitable tea break, as though the universe
itself couldn’t proceed without that sacred pause. Growing up in such an
environment, I naturally developed a fondness for tea, what started as
fascination soon became devotion. College days only reinforced the bond: every
post-lecture chat, every long evening of dreams and dilemmas began with the
familiar clink of cups.
Later,
in professional life, tea became the silent participant in every meeting.
Whether it was a crisis discussion, a brainstorming session, or a casual
exchange of nothingness tea was there, uniting us in common comfort. Even the
most heated debates somehow mellowed with each sip perhaps tea doesn’t just
brew leaves, it brews patience.
Now,
with the generational shift from Gen Z to Gen Alpha, the story of tea seems to
be… well, steeping in change. The new-age beverage scene is full of green teas,
bubble teas, matcha lattes, and other complicated cousins. People now discuss
“aroma profiles” and “infusion times” as if auditioning for a role in MasterChef.
Starbucks has turned tea from a household ritual into a lifestyle statement complete
with hashtags and loyalty points.
And
yet, somewhere between the froth and the foam, the simplicity of chai is
slipping away. The cup that once symbolized togetherness is now an accessory
for Instagram reels. But perhaps, it’s only natural times change, tastes
evolve.
Still,
for those of us who grew up hearing the whistle of a kettle rather than the
buzz of a coffee machine, tea remains eternal. It’s not just a drink; it’s a
pause button for life. It’s the quiet warmth of dawn, the laughter shared under
a tin roof during rain, the comfort in a clay cup during winter chill.
So,
here’s to tea our humble philosopher in a cup. May it always remind us that
some of life’s finest moments don’t need Wi-Fi, whipped cream, or Wi-Fi-enabled
kettles, just hot water, a few leaves, and a heart willing to slow down.
Because in the end, no matter where we go or how fast the world spins, there’s nothing quite like saying, “Chalo, ek cup chai ho jaye?”
