Taking Tea

Originally written on a rainy day a few months ago.
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Another day of rain inundated her car windows as she drove toward her favorite coffee haunt with determination. Upon arrival, the place was busy and once again, out of nearly everything. Instead of going someplace else or becoming irritable like the last time this happened, she opted for less flash and more satisfaction in the form of her old, nearly abandoned favorite of steaming hot Earl Grey tea.

“Even this simple, do it yourself beverage is overpriced here,” she mutters to herself as she succumbs to a to-go cup instead of the thick white mug she was looking forward to holding in the palm of her hands. They were out of those too.

“Hot tea!” yells the girl from behind the counter. Hot tea? This was a large cup of steaming water. She picked two tea bags from the Earl Grey jar since this was an exceptionally large cup of near boiling water. She headed to the fix-it counter and collected her sweetening agents. She sat down at her table inserted her tea bags, stirred and replaced the lid in order to let it steep properly. She looked out at the rain strewn window as her computer booted up and realized that this accidental cup of tea was a much needed retreat from her constant emersion in noise, sights and fast, explosive flavors.

As she watched the steam slink up the sides of her cup and whisper upwards into oblivion, she was launched into a memory about thirteen years prior. Her first cup of Earl Grey tea was in London at a simple lunch counter. That had been a real lesson in tea! After ordering Twinnings Earl Grey because a character on a beloved television show always drank it, she was surprised to be presented with a tiny metal teapot with scorching hot water in it, a tea strainer full of Earl Grey leaves, a selection of sugar, saccharine, honey, lemon and milk as well as a tea cup complete with saucer and spoon. She tried a cup with nearly every choice and decided she preferred hers with honey and nothing else.

She smiled at the fact that her preference hadn’t changed in all these years, while blowing the steam off the top of her current to-go cup full of aromatic memories. She pulled the cup closer and heat floated to her face bringing with it the uniquely citrus scent of Earl Grey leaves. She pulled out the tea bags and used the spoon to squeeze them tightly against the side of the cup, extracting every last bit of essence from it before setting it aside. Next she added the honey—the best part. She stirred it slowly allowing the cold honey to merge fully with the steaming tea. Finally, all one must do is let it cool enough to take a sip without burning your tongue beyond usefulness.

The first sip is the test. You examine its burnt amber color and wonder, is it cool enough now? Is it sweet enough? Is this brand too acidic, or more lemon than orange? When it is right, it is comfort, relaxation and warmth in fluid form. You open your eyes a little less fully and you look beyond a thing and see only its color and movement. It is only a few moments stolen from the day, but the right sensory experience can clarify the mind and foster creativity. Taking tea is indeed a necessary luxury.