Over the past two years of living through this pandemic, my husband and I have had our ups and downs. You learn a lot about a relationship when trapped together in a small NYC apartment. We had always thought that we were a strong couple, but the cracks were emphasized over this concentrated amount of time together and we realized that heated arguments would lead to bad feelings and more arguments. We needed a calmer, safer way to communicate. One way to do this was through tea dates.
Finding time to sit and talk over a warm drink harkens to the idea of Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), which roughly translates to a coziness that makes one feel content and comfortable. The Norwegian word has become a lifestyle that encourages people to gather together in comfort and share thoughts and emotions to foster a sense of closeness with one another. Our tea dates embraced this idea and gave us moments relaxed enough that we can have hard conversations without anger or fear and through such talks – strengthen our bond. For me a good cup of tea is hygge encapsulated in deliciousness.
So what do I do when lockdowns prevent me from heading to my favorite cafe? I hit the bottomless supply of teas that horde in one overflowing drawer of my cabinet. Yes, I am a bit of a tea aficionado (which is just a nice way of saying I drink way too much tea) and this has led me to find some really great brands. Here are just some of my favorites:
Tea Chest Hawaii
Founded in 1995 by Byron and Satomi Goo, Tea Chest Hawaii makes delicious blends that are also great for your health. I love their Maikai Gift Box For Well-Being. It contains 3 different teas: MANA, for Immunity, ʻOLENA for Inflammation, and NANEA for Anxiety & Stress. I particularly like their ‘Olena tea as I have terrible stomach issues and anytime I am feeling nauseous this tea settles my stomach better than Pepto Bismol ever could.
T-We
T-We makes delightful teas with an extra pinch of sass. Each tin of tea is hand-blended and mixed with herbs that someone actually broke out a mortar and pestle to crush for you. Once the ingredients are properly incorporated they are placed in square tins and labeled things like “Guurl Grey”, “Meh”, “Milf and Cookies” and my personal mint tea of choice “Grump Dinosaur”. If you wants a delicious cup of tea that’ll amuse you every time you grab it out of the cabinet, then make sure to check out T-We.
Bird & Blend
As a die-hard fan of the British Baking Show, Bird & Blend’s flavors like Rhubarb & Custard and Vicky’s Spongecake immediately ended up in my shopping cart. Let me tell you, these teas live up to their names. When I brew up a pot of Cherry Bakewell the aroma of sweet cherries and marzipan makes me feel like any second Paul Hollywood will wander over to offer that sacred handshake for a bake well done.
Chariteas
I picked up the Winter Warmth Tea Flight from Chariteas this holiday season and I fell in love with their Fireside Orange. It’s a black tea blend with orange peel, sarsaparilla, amacha, and spices that makes it both sweet and peppery – perfect for those chilly days that are finally rolling in.
While tea might not be your thing, finding that thing that will provide you with a sense of comfort is important. Wether you are building a better relationship with yourself or others or just looking for some “Me-Time,” slowing down and finding ways to feel safe and cozy are important to your emotional well-being (and if nothing else, for me it provides an excuse to buy even more tea).
Image Credits: Jessica Fisher, Tea Chest Hawaii, Bird & Blend, Chariteas
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