Over Thanksgiving break, I had free time I hadn’t had in a while. So I revived one of my favorite little habits: putting together a tea tray in the afternoon and taking a moment to enjoy a warm cup. Maybe it’s my British ancestry, but I love this little ritual. And I’m not alone. All-out wars have been fought over tea, entire economies built around it and centuries of social customs developed for its proper enjoyment. But what is so special about this humble little beverage?
Tea time demands patience. Boiling water, steeping a tea bag and taking the time to sit and drink it all require a pause and a conscious decision to put aside work and distraction to create something for yourself to enjoy. In our culture of speed and output, taking even 10 minutes for a daily delicacy can feel revolutionary. The constant rush of daily life takes a toll on our minds and bodies, and the positive effect of taking a deep breath and having a moment free of overwhelm cannot be overstated. There’s something meditative about watching the color of the tea deepen as the time passes or holding the cup in your hands and feeling the warmth through the ceramic. Moreover, customizing your tea to your own unique taste means the flavor of tea isn’t overwhelming; it’s subtle and complex. These small sensory details anchor us to the present in a way we desperately need after scrolling through a phone all day or rushing from class to class. Tea time is a quiet moment to remember that life doesn’t have to — and shouldn’t — move at a constant speed, and we deserve a chance to slow down.
In many ways, tea time is a little emblem of what we’re all craving in a time of constant motion and obligation. Our lives are jam-packed with tasks, deadlines and notifications that demand our attention at any given moment and pull us away from our immediate world. Sure, you may be physically at a friend’s house, trying to catch up or have fun, but the second you get a Canvas notification, your mind is back at school, revising essays to get your grade up. Similarly, you might be physically in the school library, studying for a math final, but pick up your phone, and you’re suddenly mentally consumed by your Snapchat notifications and what’s on some random friend’s private story.
Tea time, in contrast, is a syncing of mind and body. When I sit down with my cup, I am physically and mentally in the same place. My thoughts are not scattered across notifications, assignments and due dates, but aligned with a simple reality in front of me. Even if it’s just ten minutes, it’s a reclamation of my own attention, a tiny moment of autonomy in a world that constantly demands it be given elsewhere.
The beauty of tea is that it is both simple and luxurious. There’s nothing extravagant to a cup of tea, but there’s everything significant about choosing to slow down, being present and focusing on yourself for a moment. Tea time reminds us that life can be still, calm and easy, and in that little pause, I find clarity. I am reminded that sometimes, quiet little rituals can change our lives the most, so from time to time, make yourself a cup of tea and remember that you are here to do more than just rush.
