For us Iranians, tea is not just a drink. Tea is a meaningful part of our lives.
We drink tea when we are happy. We drink tea when we are sad. Even when we feel nothing at all, we drink tea.
We live with tea. It is almost like a code for survival.
We love it. The more fragrant it is, the darker it is, the more it comforts the heart. Tea tastes better with friends. It tastes better with people we care about. It tastes deeper with those we love. It feels calmer with people who truly understand each other.
Tea is inseparable from Iranian life. For me personally, tea is something I grew up with. I have memories tied to it. It is not something that can simply be set aside. It has become part of who we are, part of our goodness.
And tea, like life, comes in different kinds. Tea that takes longer to brew feels richer. Tea that brews too quickly fades just as quickly. It does not satisfy you. It does not leave you fulfilled.
Tea is like friendship. Friendships that take time to form tend to last a long time. But friendships that form quickly and impulsively often disappear just as quickly.
Tea, love, friendship, and peace are all somehow woven together for us Iranians.
Well then… OMG, my tea has already gone cold. Let me go brew another cup. ☕