A cup of tea opens the conversation, a way to maintain friendship.

(NLĐO) - Every morning, while the air is still slightly misty, I get up, take the tea set to the well in the yard to wash it clean, and then boil water to make tea.

My father often said, "A cup of tea is the beginning of a conversation." He drank tea as a habit.

For my father, even brewing tea required thoughtfulness. He opened the box, and the delicate aroma of lotus tea wafted through the air. He instructed, "Take two small pinches, just enough to fit in the palm of your hand, not too much and not too little."

Dad put the tea leaves into the teapot, gently shaking it as if to awaken the tea buds after a long night of lying still. The water for brewing tea must be boiling hot. Dad poured a little boiling water into the teapot, then quickly poured out the first infusion. He said that step was to wash away the dust and the bitter taste.

From the fresh, vibrant green tea leaves...

With the second pour, the water touched the tea buds, a soft rustling sound, and steam rose in wisps. Dad closed the teapot, waited for the tea to steep, and gazed wistfully at the sun-drenched courtyard. Whenever he saw a neighbor passing by, he would call out, "Come in and have a cup of tea!"

Tea is not just for quenching thirst. Adults use a cup of tea as a way to sit together, exchange pleasantries, and share stories about life. From the harvest and work to their children. Sometimes, nothing is important; all it takes is a cup of tea, and the conversation naturally unfolds, warming the heart and bringing people closer. Only after the tea is served do people begin to talk.

Crystallization into a rich and flavorful cup of tea.

During holidays and Tet (Vietnamese New Year), my father would choose the finest tea, carefully processed, with tea buds curved like hooks and a vibrant green color. When people came to wish him a happy new year, raising a cup of tea would make the conversation more lively and intimate. Sometimes, just a cup of tea could turn strangers into acquaintances, and acquaintances into close friends.

On important occasions like my siblings' weddings, a cup of tea takes on a different meaning. It's not just the beginning of a conversation, but also the start of a relationship.

People use a cup of tea to initiate conversation, nod in agreement, and accept a new, long-lasting relationship. As I grew older, I understood what my father said years ago: "A cup of tea is the beginning of a conversation"—enjoying tea is about listening, knowing when to slow down: A cup of tea opens the conversation, and preserves the relationship.

And that marked the beginning of my father's new day.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest 2026, part of the 4th "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chen-tra-mo-chuyen-giu-tinh-196260321150828069.htm