You know that moment when the day’s just running faster than you? Phone ringing, deadlines chasing you, and your brain is like—
“bas, ab thoda break chahiye.” That’s usually when I stop everything and go make chai. Not those dip-dip tea bags, yaar. Proper leaf tea. The kind my mom says “has real character.”
Growing up, evenings in our home were always about tea. My dad would come back from work, toss his bag on the sofa, and say, “Bas ek garam chai le aa, fir baat karta hoon.” That was our family’s official chill time. The smell of black leaf tea filling the kitchen, mom’s laughter from the balcony, and that one steel cup being passed around—it’s funny how small moments stick with you.
Now that I stay alone in the city, I miss that warmth. So, I’ve started making tea the same way mom used to—slowly, with patience. Bit of water, bit of milk, and a spoon of organic leaf tea. Sometimes I stand there just watching it boil, listening to the bubbles. There is something peaceful about that tiny moment.
People say instant tea saves time, but really—what’s the hurry? Watching those tiny leaves open up in the pot is pure magic. And when you use premium tea, the taste just hits different. No need for fancy snacks or bakery biscuits. Ek simple Marie bhi chalega.
Last week, my friend Riya came over after one of those rough workdays. I didn’t say anything dramatic—just gave her a hot cup of black leaf tea. We didn’t talk for ten minutes. Just sipped quietly. Then she said, “You know what, this tastes like home.” And honestly, I felt that. Tea doesn’t solve problems, but somehow it makes the heart lighter.
On Sundays, I sometimes experiment—tulsi, ginger, maybe a bit of honey. But at the end of the day, I always go back to my simple leaf tea. That’s the thing about classics—they never leave you.
Someone once wrote that tea is not just a drink, it is an emotion. I did not get it back then. But now after all these long messy grown-up days I do.
Next time you’re feeling worn out, skip the instant stuff. Take out those premium tea leaves from your kitchen shelf (mine’s from Aap Ka Bazar, of course), put on some old Bollywood music, and just breathe. Let the aroma fill your home. Let life slow down a bit.
Because sometimes peace doesn’t come from vacations or spas—it comes from that humble cup of organic leaf tea.
And really, that’s enough.
