The cuppa that cheers!

 It is a misty morning. The sun, too, seems to be refusing to come out of the blanket of clouds. But we have promises to keep with the wall clock that ticks faster than the forever flowing traffic leading us to our various assignments.

Given such existential compulsions, what can get us out of bed, and ready to face the merciless world? For most people, it would be the cuppa that cheers. Yes, a cup of tea! What is this magic potion that most sip the first thing in the morning? 

A concoction of boiling hot water, tea leaves, lemon grass and ginger, while sugar and milk are optional. For most people, it is the true tonic that strengthens. No wonder, there are 'tea-holicks' who drink cups after cups throughout the day which is actually bad for health, given the tanin in tea.

Let us look at another scenario. It is drizzling. The very climate pushes you to eat a plateful of bhajji's, need not necessarily be the onion variety. Which is the cuppa that goes with it? No guesses! For most people, it would be the cuppa that cheers. Yes, a cup of tea!

No wonder, the Japanese have an elaborate tea ceremony that artistically celebrates the drinking of tea. These days, however, tea seems to compete with the varieties of cheese in France. For the real relisher of this wonder drink, such variants as the lemon tea, mint tea, cold tea may not matter much though. They would rather say,"wah, the typical tea"!

Every house has its own taste of tea. Many households, like mine, associate drinking tea with subtle rules of growing up. We never were allowed to drink tea as children, while there are families where even a one year old drinks tea. Each to his/her own, I suppose.

True, Assam to Munnar, India has huge tea estates that have their own colonial histories, too. Yet, whichever might the type you brew, dust to leaves, for many amongst us, tea is a must, tea is the best. No wonder, December 15 is the World Tea Day!

Pratima@Despite this "tea puran" with its "glory be to tea" mantra, I love my coffee the most, though an occasional (not to forget the concessional, that is to say, when one is not at home, but is a guest)  tea or two once upon a time is not a strict no-no!