The Telltale Signs of Being a TEA-ta

Won't last a day without experiencing the warm, aromatic, delicate and soothing (feeling mayaman) effect of tea? Then you must be a TEA-ta! Here are the telltale signs of being a TEA-ta:

1. Tea is your elixir for life

You begin and end your day with tea. You take tea like your square meals (see tea time chart). Tea is medicine! A TEA-ta has a specific tea to prescribe for every symptom on earth. Sleepy? Perk up your senses with black tea. Indigestion? Have a cup of fresh peppermint tea. Sleepless? Chamomile will take you to snooze heaven. Early signs of aging? White tea is health-TEA for your skin. Cholesterol problems? Green tea is scientifically proven to unclog your arteries. As you get older, Pu-erh now becomes a staple in your tea box. Kinakabag ka ba TEA-ta? Hetong tsaa!

2. You are maTEApid

The stash of tea you keep in your handbag is as valuable as your wallet containing your membership cards (Mercury Drug, S&R, SM, Rustan's, Healthy Options, Landers , etc.), credit cards, IDs and cash. Having a tea purse ensures that you can have your preferred tea anytime, anywhere. All you need is a cup of hot water which you don't hesitate to request from that perplexed waiter. After all, bringing your own tea a.k.a pagTeaTeapid is a true mark of being a TEA-ta!

During my dear friend Solita's baby shower. We brought our own tea and teacups of course!

3. You are the 'punong abala' in every parTEA

May it be an afternoon tea, high tea or virtual tea party. You are in charge. Nuff said. You make sure that proper teaware is used. A wide selection of tea is available. The water has the right temperature. Your menu includes gluten and dairy free choices for the love of your fellow TEA-tas who have food intolerances and leaky guts.

My best friend Vie has always been the punong abala

My 40th birthday parTEA - Sheraton Hotel Manila, November 2019

My 37th birthday parTEA - Sonya's Garden, Tagaytay, November 2016

4. You own a proper teacup

Kahit hindi mayaman, may Royal Albert, Royal Doulton, Limoges, Noritake, Wedgewood or Aynsley teacup ka kahit isa. To drink tea from any other cup apart from a proper teacup is sacrilege! Having a tea set, a tea cart, a tea corner or tea room elevates your ranking in the Holy Order of TEA-tas.

My tea cart

Vannah's Tea Corner

Vie's tea room

5. You are committed to fellowship with TEA-tas.

Whenever. Wherever. You must not miss the holy tea time especially if it is Yum Cha - a traditional Cantonese brunch with overflowing Chinese tea and dimsum.

The Fellowship of TEA-tas having Yum Cha in Hong Kong, March 2015

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