Tea…Lover?
Nothing says I love and appreciate you more than knowing how your beloved takes his or her tea. One lump or two? Honey?
Maybe you haven’t mastered the exact amounts of milk and sugar your honey desires in her oolong, but a little ooh la la may be as sweet and simple as that.
After all, it’s the little things that make us feel loved and appreciated, and taking time for tea together can strengthen your relationship. According to North Dakota State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the time spent in conversation over tea with your partner can strengthen important bonds that enhance health and well-being.
And the enhancing powers of tea don’t stop there. Drinking tea can balance our mood and make us feel oh so good. Theanine, found in the leaves of black and green tea, especially the matcha, gyokuro, and anji bai cha varieties, is an amino acid that’s been found to reduce anxiety by boosting inhibitory neurotransmitters and modulating serotonin and dopamine. It stimulates GABA production and alpha brainwaves, which may induce deep states of relaxation, promote clarity, improve attention, and increase sensations of pleasure.
Sounds like a recipe for romance!
The ancient Chinese thought so, too. The tea ceremony was revered as the most important event in a traditional Chinese wedding with the couple serving tea to the bride’s family the morning of the wedding and to the groom’s family after exchanging vows. Today, most Chinese couples host a shared tea ceremony for both families as a sign of respect to their parents for an upbringing of care and devotion. The wedding tea set is often a family heirloom gifted from the bride’s family, which includes a Chinese gaiwan, a cup with a lid and saucer, suitable only in red. Red envelopes with gifts of money are given by all guests to the bride and groom after the drinking of the tea. Parents and grandparents often gift jewelry to the couple while younger members of the family who assist with the tea service also receive the lucky red envelopes.
While it may elicit images of Valentine’s Day in the West, the Chinese wedding tea ceremony is a ritual symbolizing the purity, stability, and fertility of the marriage. The tea itself signifies these qualities. Carefully chosen from a select list of Chinese black teas, the couple ingests the tea and its inherent virtues into their bodies. Additionally, research shows that rituals of connection are important tools for successful relationships. And, yes, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so why not start the day by preparing an intentional cup of tea for your loved one? Perhaps even promise one another to engage in a new daily, weekly, or monthly tea ceremony as a ritual to honor your partnership. It need not be extravagant. A quiet cup before a busy day is all it takes for tea…lovers.
Our Very Berry Valentine Rooibos Organic, with romantic fragrances of sweet ripe berries, beneficial rosehips, blackberry leaf, and calendula, is a great tea to inaugurate such a Valentine’s vow. And our Annual Tea Club, the Tea Lover’s Dozen Tea Club, will bring 13 months of quality & rare loose leaf teas delivered to your door for the price of just 12 months.
It should be enough time to learn just how your tea lover loves their tea as well as their time with you.
It puts a whole new twist on tea lovers, does it not?
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*This article was written by our guest, Stacia Grace. She’s a Virtual Assistant/Social Media Manager with an impressive background, including expert level marketing at Constant Contact, Canva & Meet Edgar – and much more. Stacia spent time at U of A studying Writing & Theology, and last but not least, an MS at Northeastern in Nonprofit and Leadership.
Stacia Grace may be contacted at staciamariegrace@gmail.com for questions or rate inquiries. She is currently open to new clients in need of Virtual Assistant services such as writing/scheduling of articles & pins or other similar services.
The Life Of Tea 