Oct-tea-ber?
Trick or tea? Spooky tea-son?
There’s a lot going on in my life right now and my roommate suggested I write about tea. To calm me. So let’s talk about tea.
I did some background research on tea, because I take my authorial duties very seriously, and it turns out loving tea is what makes us human. Writers across time and space memorialize their appreciation for the ancient drink with words that bring tears to my eyes and a mug to my lips (you’ll find some lovely tea quotes at the bottom of this article).
First of all: I used to be a coffee girl. I still identify with that demographic on a deeper level, but I’m proud to say that I’ve recently branched out into tea territory. Coffee is my comfort zone and tea is a sexy challenge. Also, the rascals I live with are bonkers for tea and I’ve been peer pressured into sharing their lifestyle.
Coffee is a hard thing to give up. It’s a stimulant, a routine, and a digestive catalyst. Coffee makes me scrimbly and happening and I like it a lot. However, it works even better when you pace yourself; now that I drink tea throughout the day, I can save precious Keurig pods for nights I forget about an assignment until long after the sun has set.
My goal here is not to shame coffee drinkers (or any other faction of caffeine enjoyers, for that matter) but rather to celebrate the wonders of tea in its season of glory. Winter favors hot cocoa, spring and summer are loose cannons, but autumn is for tea. I adore a London fog (Earl grey ft. creamer) with oat milk on a chilly October morning. After classes, I make myself a chai and meditate on my day while I wait for the water to boil. One last herbal blend with lemon and honey for a cozy nightcap, and that settles it: I guess I’m a tea girl. Some days I’ll even throw in an extra cup of Harney & Sons Black Cask Bourbon Tea Bags, which tastes like if the infamous mahogany teakwood Bath and Body Works candle was drinkable. If I consumed that same amount of coffee every day, I’d never sleep.
The magic of tea isn’t hard to uncover: it’s spiritually strengthening to hold a warm mug in your hands and breathe in the spices, to take a break, and to check in with yourself. You can even match the brew to your mood. Basically, there’s a whole world out there that I’m just waking up in, and I’m writing from the other side to tell you that it’s sooo comfy over here.
I hope this ramble inspired you to put the kettle on.
“Surely a pretty woman never looks prettier than when making tea.” – Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret
“Making tea is a ritual that stops the world from falling in on you.” – Jonathan Stroud, The Creeping Shadow
“When she is unable to avoid the matter further, she makes a pot of tea.” – Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus