I Believe in a Hot Cup of Tea

by Brianna Prill



I believe a hot cup of really good tea is always appropriate and always effective.

I believe in a cup of mint tea with my mom while we sit on the porch and catch up. We'll take a break from all the things on our to-do lists and stay outside chatting until we finish the last drop.

I believe in a cup of Earl Grey while I'm watching Downton Abbey. I'll take a drink every time the characters ring for tea, and for an hour I'm a member of the British aristocracy.

I believe in a cup of fruit tea with my boyfriend on a lazy Saturday morning when we’re cuddled on the couch, content to waste away the day.

I believe in a cup of chamomile tea before bed, when I'm too stressed to sleep. Sometimes I need an excuse to sit down, curl up, and think everything through until it makes sense.

I believe in a cup of green tea with my grandma while she raves about it's million health benefits. After our cup of health, she'll send me home with all the candy bars she can find in her kitchen.

I believe in a cup of jasmine tea when I'm bored and want to imagine myself somewhere exotic. I fell in love with tea when I wandered into a spice market in Seattle and browsed teas from all over the world, reading about their histories, believing they have special magic.

Whatever kind I'm drinking, I believe that a cup of hot tea forces me to slow down and refocus. I'm at a point in my life where I'm perpetually busy, and it's easy to fly around until I collapse from stress and exhaustion. When I sit down with a cup of tea, I can't gulp it down or take it on the run. I'm ready to be still for a deep conversation or a quiet reflection. No matter how crazy things get, there is a peaceful feeling to a cup of tea, and I enjoy taking that moment alone or with the people I love.