For anyone who knows me, tea has been a constant companion for most of my life. Ever since I was 10, I’ve been drinking it almost daily—three cups a day, to be exact. There are even tales of me having tea in my bottle as a baby. I guess that’s what you get from having British parents. That means, at this point, I’ve consumed roughly over 44,000 cups of tea. Small cups, big mugs, some with no milk, some with no sugar.
When I think about it, tea has been more than just a hot beverage; it’s been a teacher of sorts, imparting lessons along the way. Let me share some insights from all those cups of orange pekoe, almost always with two milk and two sugars.
1. Rituals ground us
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from drinking so much tea is the power of rituals. That simple act of preparing a cup, boiling the water, steeping the tea, and adding milk and sugar, is more than a routine—it’s grounding. There’s something meditative about it, a few minutes where the world slows down. No matter how chaotic life can be, tea is always a moment of calm, a chance to breathe and reset.
Whether it’s early in the morning or mid-afternoon, that familiar ritual brings comfort and stability. You can set the clock to my tea routine for sure. The first cup with breakfast, the second cup around 10:30 am, and the third cup around 3 pm. There was a period where I was pretty consistent on the late night cup as well which was past 10 pm. But I have removed that from the routine. It’s a tent pole in the day. It’s something you can use to push you through something you really don’t want to do.
It’s a friendly reminder to stop and take a break. It’s also something to fill the void when you just don’t know what to do next. I get that from my Mum. It’s what she used to connect the dots to what was next. It was what she used to get through an awkward conversation. Let me put the kettle on, she would say.
2. Simple pleasures matter
We often get caught up chasing big moments or grand achievements, but drinking tea reminds me that simple pleasures are just as important. I’ve had countless moments of joy with a steaming mug of tea in hand. Whether it’s during a quiet morning with the world wide web or a chat with a friend, tea enhances those small, everyday moments.
Making a cup of tea for your wife, or your kid is an easy thing to put you in a better mood, and it’s almost always a hit. Having a cup of tea is also a reminder that life’s pleasures don’t always come from something extravagant but from enjoying the little things—like a perfect cup of tea. There are few things better than having a mug of tea on an early Saturday morning before everyone is up. It’s peaceful. It’s guilt-free. It’s very centering when it comes to parenting.
3. Patience is key
Tea isn’t instant. Sure, you can microwave water, dump a bag in, and call it a day, but for a good cup of tea, you need patience. You need to let the water boil properly, steep the tea for the right amount of time, and wait for the flavours to develop. If you rush it, the tea tastes weak or off. I remember back when I worked at TSN, I would have very little time to run up to the cafeteria and get a tea. There was little time to let it steep, so you had to basically put everything in the styrofoam cup at once and go.
By the time you drank it, it was way over-steeped and not that enjoyable. This patience has bled into other aspects of my life, reminding me that good things take time. Whether it’s work, relationships, or personal goals, rushing things usually doesn’t lead to the best outcome. So how long do you steep your tea? Does anybody really know? I don’t have a set time, just instinct I guess.
It’s also interesting that you can follow your process exactly and sometimes the tea just tastes better, or sadly, worse. But I am getting ahead of myself.
4. Consistency is underrated
Tea, for me, has always been a steady presence. It’s comforting to know that no matter how much life changes, my love for tea remains the same. Consistency is something I’ve come to value—both in tea and in life. Showing up every day, doing the little things, and sticking to what works—that’s how progress happens. Whether it’s in my personal life or my work, being consistent has been key to achieving anything worthwhile.
Go a little overboard with the sugar, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Have to choose creamer over milk? Well, you know what bullshit that is. My tea habits very much mirror how I live my life. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. I don’t really sway from my orange pekoe. I don’t like Earl Gray. I don’t like peppermint. I don’t like most other teas. I’m a very particular guy and those who know me probably laugh at how true that statement is.
5. A personal connection to tradition
Drinking black tea or orange pekoe is a link to tradition. It’s one of those drinks with a long history, and every time I drink it, I feel connected to generations of people who’ve done the same. Adding milk and sugar is a nod to that classic preparation that people have enjoyed for centuries. It’s a reminder that while the world evolves, some things stay timeless. Tea connects me to my childhood. It stirs up fond memories of my parents. How they would take care of tea time so differently.
My Mum, similar to me, made it a simple process that never wavered. Then there was my Dad who turned it into an event and tried really hard to make it like he was cooking a turkey all day. Drinking tea reminds me of road trips with the family where we would stop on the highway for a beverage.
Time for tea
After drinking more than 44,000 cups of tea, I’ve realized that it’s much more than just a daily habit. It’s taught me about the importance of rituals, the joy in small pleasures, the need for patience, and the power of consistency. Tea has not only been a companion through the ups and downs of life, but a teacher as well. So, here’s to the next 44,000 cups—and the lessons they’ll surely bring.
Time to go put the kettle on.
