Picture me upon your knee
With tea for two and two for tea
Just me for you
And you for me alone
When you picture an intimate table for two, what beverage do you imagine sitting next to the flickering candle and floral arrangement? While some might conjure up champagne, a sparkling wine, or a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, we’d like to note that tea has often played a key role in affairs of the heart.
Brewing Tea and Romance
From King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson to Bill and Melinda Gates, some of history’s most memorable love stories are said to have begun over a cup of tea.
It was actually a marriage that increased tea’s popularity in England. When the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza arrived to marry King Charles II in 1662, she brought a casket of tea with her…and her regular drinking of her favorite beverage influenced others to take up the habit.
Tea and tea accessories were a bit of a love language for Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned extravagant Sèvres porcelain tea sets as gifts for his wife, Joséphine.
When filming began on the 1944 film To Have and Have Not, leading man Humphrey Bogart invited his young costar, Lauren Bacall, to share a cup of tea and get acquainted. An off-screen relationship followed, and the two wed after the film’s release, remaining married for the rest of Bogie’s life.
Tea was also important to the daily love story of John Lennon and Yoko Ono (although the two sometimes sparred over preparation…whereas Yoko poured boiling water into her cup, then added a tea bag, John insisted that the tea bag should go in the cup first, and then the water. Sorry Yoko, we’re on Team John here).
Tea was even at the heart of one of history’s great lover’s tiffs, as American colonists dumped hundreds of chests of tea into Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773. What later became known as the “Boston Tea Party” was an ugly breakup, to say the least, but we’ve largely made up. These days, our two countries are said to enjoy a “special relationship”...albeit a long-distance one.
Frankly, we can’t say that any of this surprises us. Sharing tea has always been an easy, low-stakes opportunity for two people to share more than just a moment of relaxation…whether that’s a lingering conversation or a growing admiration.
Once relationships heat up, tea can be a way for brides and grooms to make a good impression on each other’s parents. In India, for instance, it’s not uncommon for a bride-to-be to serve tea to her prospective in-laws before an engagement. Partly, this is a way to show respect and hospitality…but it’s also a handy way for the bride to prove that her chai-making skills are on point.
In Turkey, tea figures into the engagement itself. When the groom’s family visits the bride’s home to ask for her hand in marriage, tea is shared as part of the ritual, with the bride serving her future in-laws. The act symbolizes welcome, care, and the joining of two families.
A Cup of Commitment
The tea ceremony (known as cha dao) at Chinese weddings dates back to the Tang dynasty, making it well over 1000 years old. In the ceremony’s modern form, the engaged couple brews a pot of tea on their wedding day. It may be jasmine, oolong, pu-erh, or black tea, sometimes enriched with lotus seeds and red dates for good fortune. Kneeling or bowing, the bride and groom serve this tea to their respective families (including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other elders). In return, their elders offer blessings and gifts, marking not just the marriage of two people, but the union of two families.
Vietnamese weddings feature a similar tradition. As part of a tea ceremony known as lễ gia tiên, the couple offers tea to their parents and grandparents. After drinking the tea (symbolizing their acceptance of the marriage), the elders offer advice on how to make the new union last. (Typically, these ceremonies last between 30 minutes and an hour…partially depending on the number of elders present, and how much advice they have to offer.)
In Russia, tea has been a symbol of hospitality since the 17th century. Traditionally, a strong, black tea-based concentrate called zavarka is prepared in a small pot, then diluted with water by individual drinkers to suit their tastes. Conversation and deepened relationships naturally follow. In long-ago times, tea played a role in engagement rituals as well. Relatives of a groom would visit the relatives of the future bride, encouraging a future marriage. Once the bride’s family agreed, they would serve sweetened tea to the groom’s relatives as a sign of consent, and wedding planning would commence. (Conversely, if the bride’s family did not approve of the prospective groom, they would serve his relatives unsweetened tea. Awkward.)
Some couples in modern-day Japan are choosing to make the country’s traditional Chanoyu tea ceremony part of their wedding day. In this graceful ritual, matcha is prepared and served with graceful movements that embody harmony, respect and tranquility. The precision and intentionality of this simple act can remind couples to slow down and be fully present for each other…while serving as a reminder that love and lasting relationships are built and nourished by small, mindful acts.
Your Own Romantic Ritual Starts Here
A cup of aromatic, delicately flavored tea is truly an everyday luxury…one that offers us an opportunity to slow down and share a meaningful experience with our loved one. If you’d like to start a meaningful tea ritual of your own, we have some suggestions for you.
Lung Ching - Also known as Longjing, Long Jing, or Dragon’s Well tea, this spring-harvested green tea is one of China’s finest and most well-known teas. It’s said that prospective grooms once offered Lung Ching to their future bride’s parents as a sign of sincerity and commitment. Offering a mild, sweet flavor that combines the delicious meatiness of roasted eggplant with steamed bok choy and toasted walnut notes, this highly sought-after brew remains famous worldwide.
Chai – It’s an old Indian tradition for a bride-to-be to prepare a cup of chai for her prospective in-laws. Our sweet, spicy chai features black tea from India, cardamom seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and natural cardamom and vanilla flavors.
Li Shan - There are no strict guidelines on which tea is served in a Chinese wedding ceremony. Typically, the couple chooses a high quality tea that their parents like…and while we’re not sure what your parents are into, we’ll gladly vouch for the quality of our Li Shan. Widely regarded as one of the best oolong teas in the world, it originates from one the highest mountainous regions in Taiwan…offering a sweet aroma (an intense mixture of flowers, pears, and lemons) with a memorably creamy flavor (like lemon and pear, with underlying vegetal notes).
Jobetsugi Ceremonial Matcha (Thin Grade) - Intrigued by the idea of using matcha preparation as a small, mindful act that keeps relationships thriving? With a flavor reminiscent of melons and vegetables like spinach and lettuce, this umami-rich offering is delicious whether sipped hot, iced, or blended with a milk or milk alternative (and as a romantic bonus, it pairs well with chocolates).
Love Always - What’s more romantic than chocolate and roses? This romantic brew starts with our Chocolate Black Tea blend, then adds delicate pink rosebuds. This caffeinated, medium-bodied brew offers a chocolatey (and rosy) flavor, complemented by a sweet, floral aroma.
Rose Scented – This memorable blend of large leaf tea from China includes soft pink rosebuds, yielding a cup that smells as good as it tastes. Caffeinated and medium-bodied.
Wedding Tea – Look, we’re not trying to rush your relationship. But if you find yourself planning a rehearsal dinner and reception anytime soon, we recommend this caffeinated blend of Mutan White tea with lemon-vanilla, pink rosebuds and petals. Available in a personalized tin, if you give us two weeks processing and shipping time.
Royal Wedding Tea – We originally made this tea to commemorate the 2011 union of Prince William and Kate Middleton…but it was so good, we kept on making it. Much like our Wedding Tea, this blend starts with Mutan White, then adds almond, coconut, and vanilla to go with the pink rosebuds and petals. It’s beautiful to look at, delightful to smell, and wonderful to sip.
Shared Cups, Shared Lives
In some ways, building a lasting relationship isn’t so different from brewing a great cup of tea. Both depend on finding a complementary blend. Both ask for patience. And both reward care and attention with something that’s deeply invigorating, quietly sustaining…and endlessly rewarding.
