Tea

How are you doing? No, how are you really doing?! Tea is not what I’d originally planned for today’s post, but the turmoil of our time calls for comfort. Tea might appear an odd choice for comfort, but it’s centering as a form of routine and familiarity in most Jamaican households. Growing up and until this day, our day does not start without a cup of tea. Yes, most times by 8am, Jamaica is nearing 80°F,  but a hot cup of tea is a welcome start to our day.

Largely credited to being a former British colony and now Commonwealth’s rich influence, tea has a Jamaican model figure of its own. “Tea” is any warm fluid: hot water, sugar and hot water, hot water and bush leaves, teabags, milo, horlicks, warm milk, and yes, coffee. All can be identified as “tea”, which is a ritual and not reliant on the product itself. The product is determined by desire and availability. Tea is a means of transitioning, first-aid and receiving. 

Jamaican mothers will insist that before leaving the house, you have a cup of tea with breakfast. If you only have time for one thing, let it be tea – even if it’s just a sip. If you’re unwell — “have a cup of tea.” The water is boiled (some use percolators), but never microwaved. (This is borderline an insult) Tea is a gift to ourselves and each other. Thus, not to be rushed. We’re giving ourselves time and allowing ourselves to be worthy of time. Tea is a form of care, attention, and oddly, affection. Ask any Jamaican, microwaving the water to make a cup of tea makes the tea less enjoyable. It’s as if the body knows we are not engaged and that the ritual is out of sync. 

I have tea at midday, in addition to in the mornings and evenings. However, tea after a long day’s work, just before dinner is a more common practice to replenish the body. There is not a day that went by that I didn’t hear my mom say, “put on the kettle”, as she stepped through the door. At times I found it annoying, but today it takes me home.

For a hot climate country that enjoys tea so much, you would think iced tea would have caught on, but not at all. It’s the warmth of that tea running through our bodies that provides comfort and grounding for us to take on what’s next, and whatever’s next, it’s going to be ok.