Drink Tea, Read Books, Be Happy

Tea is the second only to water beverage consumed by humans across the world and plays very important role in some countries. Drinking Tea definitely has a charm. Similarly book reading is also a very significant aspect of human society. There are cultures where reading book and drinking tea is a enjoyable combination. This write up is advising to adopt book reading with drinking tea to achieve a happy society.

Drink Tea, Read Books, Be Happy

Tea is the second only to water beverage consumed by humans across the world and plays very important role in some countries. It is commonly consumed at homes, offices and social gatherings, and many cultures have created intricate formal ceremonies for these events. Tea culture is how tea is made and consumed, how people interact with tea, and the aesthetics surrounding tea drinking. Tea is drunk individually at home or offices, in small private gatherings, tea houses and in groups in public, private or social gatherings.

Drinkng Tea definitely has a charm. One may travel in any corner of the world and will certainly observe social aspects associated with tea.  Similarly book reading is also a very significant aspect of human society and where book reading is a cultural attribute, those societies have shown remarkable human development and growth. There are cultures and countries where reading book and drinking tea is a enjoyable combination. Such societies are happy and prosperous. Britain is one such country where tea time is very significant.

 

The book "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton tells that tea time to the British is very significant. One quote in the book is about tea and in the following a few lines are quoted:-

" Lily, with the flavour of Selden’s caravan tea on her lips, had no great fancy to drown it in the railway brew which seemed such nectar to her companion; but, rightly judging that one of the charms of tea is that fact of drinking it together, she proceeded to give the last touch to Mr. Gryce’s enjoyment by smiling at him across her lifted cup."

There is also another great tea quote in the book " Little Bee" by Chris Cleave; which says that " Tea is the taste of my land: it is bitter and warm, strong, and sharp with memory. It tastes of longing. It tastes of the distance between where you are and where you come from. Also it vanishes — the taste of it vanishes from your tongue while your lips are still hot from the cup. It disappears, like plantations stretching up into the mist." This is a wonderful quote about tea and one that is definitely true. Tea can bring back many memories of places you have been or people you have shared tea with.

Few quotes that explain Love of Tea and our favourite reading companion.

Everyone who is concerned knows that reading and a cup of tea go hand in hand and it’s almost impossible to find one without the other. So in the following to celebrate our love of tea, few quotes that explain exactly how we feel about our favourite reading companion.

“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” – Bill Watterson

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis

"The secret to a well-balanced life is a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other". Unknown

“Tea and books – Mmmmm, two of life’s exquisite pleasures that bring together near-bliss.” – Christine Hanrahan

“Society is a strong solution of books. It draws the virtue out of what is best worth reading, as hot water draws the strength of tea-leaves.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” – Henry James

“Looking deeply into your tea, you see that you are drinking fragrant plants that are the gift of Mother Earth. You see the labor of the tea pickers; you see the luscious tea fields and plantations in Sri Lanka, China, and Vietnam. You know that you are drinking a cloud; you are drinking the rain. The tea contains the whole universe.” – Thich Nhat Hanh,

Few Poems on the Combo Tea and Book Reading

For centuries, tea leaves have been read as a way of telling the drinker's fortunes. This is a practice called tasseography. Tasseography, or tasseomancy, is the art of reading tea leaves at the bottom of a cup after the liquid has been consumed by the drinker. "Tea is a ritual, an art that nourishes the soul." "With each cup of tea, I sip serenity." "Tea, a humble companion on the journey of self-reflection." "A cup of tea, a moment of clarity." Tea has theanine, that helps to focus and has a calming effect. To most people the combination of these two component in tea help to reach an energized and focused state that could help read longer.

“Tea-Drinking” by Lu Tung

The first cup moistens my lips and throat.

The second cup breaks my loneliness.

The third cup searches my barren entrail but to find therein some thousand volumes of odd ideographs.

The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration – all the wrongs of life pass out through my pores.

At the fifth cup I am purified.

The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals.

The seventh cup – ah, but I could take no more! I only feel the breath of the cool wind that raises in my sleeves. Where is Elysium? Let me ride on this sweet breeze and waft away thither.

A Pot Of Tea by Robert Service (Canadian/British – early 1900’s)

You make it in your mess-tin by the brazier’s rosy gleam;

You watchit cloud, then settle amber clear;

You lift it with your bay’nit, and you sniff the fragrant steam;

The very breath of it is ripe with cheer.

You’re awful cold and dirty, and a-cursin’ of your lot;

You scoff the blushin’ ‘alf of it, so rich and rippin’ ’ot;

It bucks you up like anythink, just seems to touch the spot:

God bless the man that first discovered Tea!

Since I came out to fight in France, which ain’t the other day,

I think I’ve drunk enough to float a barge;

All kinds of fancy foreign dope, from caffy and doo lay,

To rum they serves you out before a charge.

In back rooms of estaminays I’ve gurgled pints of cham;

I’ve swilled down mugs of cider till I’ve felt a bloomin’ dam;

But ‘struth! they all ain’t in it with the vintageof Assam:

God bless the man that first invented Tea!

I think them lazy lumps o’ gods wot kips on asphodel

Swigs nectar that’s a flavour of Oolong;

I only wish them sons o’ guns a-grillin’ down in ‘ell

Could ’ave their daily ration of Suchong.

Hurrah! I’m off to battle, which is ‘ell and ’eaven too;

And if I don’t give some poor bloke a sexton’s job to do,

To-night, by Fritz’s campfire, won’t I ‘ave a gorgeous brew

(For fightin’ mustn’t interfere with Tea).

To-night we’ll all be tellin’ of the Boches that we slew,

As we drink the giddy victory in Tea.

A Poem from #Qamar Asi is translated from Urdu to English for the readers

Friends! Drink tea, read books;

Foe! Drink tea, read books. 

When someone asked for a cure for grief;

Said! Drink tea, read books.

Don't think about every day sufferings;

Smile! Drink tea, read books.

Socrates would have consulted me; 

Would advise! Drink tea, read books.

Do not go too far in hatred;

Come back! Drink tea, read books

You call Poetry is haram? 

Go dude! Drink tea, read books.

Recite ta'awz (seek refuge from ills) on each prejudice;

Then drink tea, read books.

All intelligent people say;

Instantly! drink tea, read books.

Dear Qamar, have a little luxury;

Sing songs, drink tea, read books!