Tea has travelled a journey of over eighteen hundred years on this planet. One can trace the earliest mentions of tea back to the third century as the herb with medicinal value. It has been a drink of aristocracy right from the emperors of China to the pharaohs of Egypt. Today, it is a necessary kitchen ingredient in almost every household in Asia and other parts of the world. The British popularised tea in India during their rule of two hundred years. The royalties and the wealthy were the first ones to adapt it as a leisure drink, bringing in a touch of elegance to this beverage. Even today, many tea varieties continue to bear the royal legacy. So, in a way tea bears a stamp of royalty. But would you believe if we share with you the fact that tea also carries a mark of emotion and personality?

Milky tea versus fresh brews

Your cup of tea expresses your emotional state of mind. Additionally, it is indicative of your personality. Now, you may be wondering how the daily dose of milky chai, the one that’s a staple drink of more than half of the Indian population, is indicative of one’s personality? To gain some understanding, you will need to think beyond the regular milky chai and enter the huge and diverse universe of teas.

Before you take the plunge, there is a question for you – How many varieties of tea are there in the world? Four? Eight? Can’t guess? The answer is 1,500. Yes! You didn’t imagine the count to be so high, right? And, what if we tell you that in this article, we aim to relate a particular tea type with a personality or trait? No, we don’t plan to cover all the 1,500 varieties. The idea herein is only to acquaint you with the thought that a person drinking tea could also draw some connection with the corresponding tea type.

The combination of flavours used while brewing tea may reflect personality trends at a given time. While the chamomile is known to be a stress buster, a cup of herbal green tea with honey and lemon may usually project a health-conscious person. On the other hand, a cup with thick milk and three spoonfuls of sugar may reflect the not-so-health-conscious individual.

In fact, the popularity of tea among Indians has been limited to this combination of milky brew. Almost every other roadside tea stall across the country sells only milky tea, and the milk-less version is hard to be seen. It is in these brews without milk where you could explore the different flavours of tea. And, this is where individuals passionate for tea can find their soul-mate-tea-flavour.

Tea as a mood swinger

The most common cup of tea is brewed with hot water from the tea leaves or tea dust, seasoned with sugar and teamed with milk, which we call ‘chai.’ From this combination of hot water and tea leaves, arises over a hundred blends of tea consumed across the world.

For every individual, tea holds a different meaning. For example, an individual who desires a strong flavour might brew their early morning tea from tea leaves and a dash of grated ginger. In this instance, tea symbolises the early morning mood of the individual. Many people prefer drinking tea multiple times during the day, sometimes leading up to six cups a day! Most often these combinations are identical to keep the consistency, and to generate the notion, that we commonly call ‘addiction.’

The early morning cup of tea may also have a dash of sugar for many; however, with the increasing awareness about diabetes, the fancy for sugar has taken a downfall. And somehow, people have started preferring their favourite brews without the sweetness. Additionally, with the increasing popularity of ‘green tea,’ the use of sweetener has taken a downward spiral or has been replaced by natural products, such as honey. For the elderly folks, this change in habit may come across as a complete turn-off, as they have grown up to have a sweet tooth for tea.

All of this information above clearly spells out that tea impacts mood. This isn’t all; there’s more to come.

Tea flavours affecting the mood, defining the personality

Lavender tea

Many people like to have their brews with different herbal flavours, such as lavender, Tulsi (basil), etc. This preference may reflect their closeness to nature or their love for flavoured herbs. Fresh or dried buds of lavender flowers constitute the essential elements of this tea. This tea helps improve sleep quality. Additionally, scientists and physicians consider it to be a nerve tonic, as it helps to rejuvenate the nervous system. More commonly, lavender tea is meant to liven up the mood of the depressed souls, calm their nerves and make them stress-free. If you prefer lavender tea at the end of the day, you are perhaps a soft and tender person, soothing yourself from distress.

Chamomile tea

This tea is loaded with antioxidants. It helps one sleep peacefully. Chamomile tea is known to uplift mood and also works as an anti-depressant and relaxant. That is why, this tea is particularly helpful after a stressful day, especially when one is unable to let go of a particular thought at the back of your mind. Nothing can beat this tea when it comes to taste. Chamomile tea is refreshing whether consumed hot or cold. Preference for chamomile may indicate that the individual prefers naturally sweet flavours, is idealistic and deeply sensitive. They are gentle in disposition, private, internally aware, imaginative and creative. Such persons are dreamers and look for opportunities to drift into la-la land.

Peppermint tea

For the fundamental herbal experience, peppermint infuses the minty flavour in the tea. It is exceedingly soothing for stomach troubles and reducing nausea, or when one has eaten way beyond their limit and feel stuffed. Your love for peppermint would signify your love for the herbs, and your warm nature and exuberance. Want to focus more on work or anything of great interest? Grab peppermint tea. Its minty aroma and slightly sweet taste will help you maintain your concentration. If you regularly sip peppermint tea, you are perhaps a gentle person with a get-it-done personality. You are someone with a laser focus, resilience, and grit.

Hojicha

Are you someone who’s socially reserved and prefers to stay home and engage in solitary pursuits, such as reading, painting, gazing at nature and so on? Do you desire to look for opportunities to retreat to a quiet place and have a long period all to yourself, to feel recharged and energised? In that case, Hojicha is right for you! Every sip of this charcoal roasted green tea will lead you to a world of your own. This tea has low caffeine content and will relax your senses tremendously.

Green tea

This tea is tied to good health and rejuvenation; however, it also helps steer out of laziness. Want to feel high on energy? Sip green tea. Feeling low on mood? Sip green tea. In fact, you can sip this tea any time and multiple times during the day. Green tea helps cut fatty acids and boosts the body metabolism. Certainly, it leaves one feeling fresh for the whole day and their body full of energy, thereby enhancing creativity. People who are on a diet and practise intermittent fasting to lose weight, must drink green tea. Small sips of green tea during the day while fasting will give them the energy to keep going. Green tea is a mark of elegance, positive influence, and accomplishment.

Chai

Chai – the favourite beverage in India is an everyday drink for every household, but for many, it is a magical potion when they are under the weather. A hot cup of chai will help you feel warm and cozy and give you the attraction to stay indoors. It is often teamed with pakodas – a fried snack made of veggies and gram flour. Certainly, it is a tea that sets the mood for conversations with friends and family. If you love a cup of chai in the evening every day, you are perhaps a socializer, the binding agent among friends, and a passionate human being.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is a type for any mood. You could have it any time during the day. And at the same time, it could help you beat the cold. Ginger tea finds a mention in the ancient Ayurvedic texts as a tea with medicinal value. Ginger is a strong spice. Hence, your preference for this tea may define your bold, confident and opinionated temperament. If you love ginger tea, most probably you are a person who is willing to get things done despite risks. Your friends and peers admire you and like to be around you. You live young and free.

Black tea

This is a classic breakfast time tea. This flavourful tea has high levels of caffeine that help you kick start your day or give you a mid-day boost. So, it is excellent for the morning time. Black tea is suited well for breakfast with poached eggs, ham, bacon, and bread. It completes the first meal of the day, providing the essential energy for the day. Another name for freshness and vigour, this tea is a mark of class, elegance, and royalty. It projects a personality that is simple yet effervescent and enthusiastic.

Darjeeling tea

Darjeeling is a top-rated hill station – a tourist destination in the state of Bengal in India. It was the destination for a summer retreat for the British during their rule in India. And this is when they popularised Darjeeling Tea. With its close association with the British, Darjeeling tea bears the stamp of class and pride. It is also the most popularly exported tea from the country. If you love this tea, you most certainly carry the mark of refinement and panache.

Rooibos tea

Although naturally free of caffeine, rooibos tea helps in increasing concentration and focus. Hence, it is a great choice when there is a day of hard work coming up. If you are drinking the rooibos every day, you may be working too hard and need to take it slow.

Iced tea

On a hot summer afternoon, the common phenomenon is to walk into the teashop around the corner and order for an iced lemon tea or peach flavoured iced tea. This tea is a great energiser and paves the way to conversations and amiable interactions.

Teas for moments you want to cherish

Tea is a beverage that accompanies you in your ‘me’ time. People serve this beverage in every get-together at home. This drink is the reason people take out a pinch of time from their busy schedule and gather up for a short time. So, next time you hold a cup of tea, remember you’re holding an emotion. Ono Teas certainly believes that tea is an expression of one’s emotions and personality. That is why, they have differentiated their brews accordingly. They offer three lines of products.

Lifestyle:

This product line resonates with the consumers’ aspirations and ostentatious temperament. It intersects their lifestyle and positions itself as a proactive measure to contain lifestyle diseases, such as insomnia, stress, menstruation issues, fatty liver, etc. The positioning is not as a replacement for any medication but as a precautionary supplement. It is a package of health, vitality, and rejuvenation. This category encompasses a range of teas, such as Skin Glow Herbal, Hibiscus tea, Classic Green tea, and Tulsi Lemongrass tea, among others.

Solitude:

This product line is the consumer’s companion in their solitary moments. The products within this category are excellent for a fruitful ‘me-time’. The teas in this product line aim to amplify the consumer’s experiences and/or interests, such as music, movies, reading, and so on. You will find Hojicha, Gunpowder tea and Darjeeling Second Flush in this category.

Conversations:

Conversations, this category taps the social temperament of the consumer. This product line is the companion for a tête-à-tête and one that smoothens the expression of thoughts and emotions. These are the teas that one could share with their loved ones upon meeting them. This category comprises Whiskey tea, Kashmiri Kahwa, Peppermint tea, and 3 Paan tea, among others.

Your cup. Your personality.

The universe of teas is magical. If you are cold, tea will warm you. Conversely, if you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, tea will cheer you. And, if you are excited, it will calm you. Tea is the key to every mood if you are a reflective soul. Your love for a cup of tea can define who you are, and with the changing preferences for brews, you may find your own personality.

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Ono Teas handcrafts full leaf teas suiting every moment you want to cherish, whether it is solitude or conversations with friends or just a leisurely health drink to counter lifestyle disorders. You can shop from our range of green teas, black teas, blends or tisanes based on the moment you want to celebrate.

To buy Ono Teas online, visit our website.
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References/Additional Reading

Acute effects of tea consumption on attention and mood

The science of tea’s mood-altering magic

Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition

Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition

Green tea effects on cognition, mood and human brain function: A systematic review

Distinct Personality Traits Associated with Intake of Coffee, Tea, and Cola Drinks and Smoking

Drinking tea improves the performance of divergent creativity