Coffee isn’t my cup of tea. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against coffee-drinkers and if I wasn’t allergic I would be drinking it myself all the time. I often have been annoyed that I haven’t been able to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte or an espresso, but it has actually been a blessing in disguise because I was able to discover and explore the magical world of tea. Tea is a staple beverage in cultures around the world and has been a part of daily lives for almost 4,000 years. It is the second most consumed beverage in the world today after water itself. True teas such as green, black, white, oolong and pu-erh come from the plant Camellia sinensis, while others such as rooibos, yerba mate and herbal tisanes are not official teas since they come from different plants (but still hold just as an important place in my heart).

So why should you become a tea enthusiast and set aside time in your day for a cup?

There is something so comforting in the routine of preparing tea before drinking it. Nowadays we have access to electric hot water boilers and microwaves, so boiling water is no longer an inconvenient step. I love the sound of the water splashing into my favorite mug and the smell of the near instantaneous aroma of whatever tea I picked out. The amount of tea types and flavor variations are near incomprehensible and I always find myself never being able to easily pick out which one I want to drink since they all stand out to me for different reasons. I usually blindly shove my hand into the jar that holds my tea sachets and pull out whichever I grab ahold of first. This method has yet to disappoint me.

The deeper you dive into the world of tea, the more complex and rewarding brewing systems and methods are available to you. Whether it be loose-leaf or bagged, brewed in a fancy self-straining container or sloppily thrown into a teapot, I do not believe one can make a bad cup of tea. The more you start to appreciate the taste of tea, the more you are able to broaden your horizons and try new variations and flavors you never thought you would like but end up loving. Some of my favorite teas have been from brands that are not a common household name and have unique blends that capture a unique essence, such as English Tea Shop’s Ginger Peach Tea, Ahmad Tea’s Earl Grey or T-Salon’s Sunrise in Tibet. Find a local teahouse and take the time to try a variety of teas and figure out which teas you love the most. Experiment with different brands and different blends and find the delicious teas that make you happy and craving more when you are finished.

Tea is not only absolutely delicious, but it is also healthy - that’s a win-win in my book! Chock-full of antioxidants, tea has the ability to fight off DNA harming free radicals that researchers have linked with many types of cancer and heart disease. It is also a great source of hydration since most of it is water and has relatively low amounts of caffeine compared to coffee. Regular ingestion of tea has also been linked to lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol and protection against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Tea in itself without milk or sugar has no calories and is a healthy alternative to sodas and other processed drinks.

Nothing calms me down more than a piping hot mug of freshly brewed tea. Brewing and drinking tea has become my meditation that allows me to take a pause from my busy hectic life and take the time to focus on the present and the now. Drinking tea enables me to live in the moment and clear my mind of the thoughts that continuously run rampant day and night without pause. Nothing is better than curling up in bed with a hot cup of tea, a good book and my thoughts. Tea time is me time; a time of self reflection and enjoyment of a simple drink that has changed my life for the better.