Eighty Degrees #15 2025

For some, tea draws people together, forging connections and nurturing a shared sense of belonging. It becomes more than just a drink; it’s a purpose, a source of safety, a ritual that binds. In each cup, they don’t see just an infusion; they see the pulse of their community, the essence that brings them back together.

For others, tea is a gateway to the past, to distant lands, to the unfamiliar. Each sip evokes flavours of worlds they may never visit yet deeply want to understand. It’s a chance to touch history, to see through a lens that brings near the experiences of ancestors and reveals the stories that shaped those who came before us.

In other corners of the world, tea is revered as a divine touch — soothing conflicts, healing the spirit. It is venerated, honoured, and woven with meaning.

Tea is a paradox, after all: a ritual or a casual drink, elevated or plain, bound to ceremony or stripped of rules. But there’s something more — it challenges us, asks us to question our connections and explore our cultural boundaries.