Once "drunk" on tea in front of the boss

* The article is an entry for the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 2nd time, 2024, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Graduated in 2016, the first time I "met" the head of the internship agency was also the first time I drank tea. The cup of tea was really attractive, the color of the water was green, natural yellow, hot steam rose, and there was a faint aroma like young rice.

The image of porcelain tea sets clanging against each other, men and women gathering around to talk about life is no longer strange to me. However, back then, I never finished a cup of tea, just sipped a little on the tip of my tongue and complained: "Why is it so bitter?"

The boss made tea for a new graduate, I had to drink it properly to show respect to my superior. The first sip, I felt hot and bitter. The second sip, I felt the aftertaste of the tea was a little sweet. I was still awake to continue talking to the boss, but on the third sip, I don't know why I felt a little dizzy, my heart was beating fast, and my stomach was churning.

I tried to stay calm after following the "3 sips of tea" rule. The boss poured me a second cup, just as the conversation was about to end. Not wanting to leave a cup of tea uneaten, I drank it all in one gulp and said goodbye. At this point, my eyes were dizzy. After that day, I learned that I was "tea drunk" because my body was not compatible with the substances in tea.

My story quickly spread throughout the office. The boss looked at me, smiled, and shook his head: "You should practice drinking tea gradually, my child! Drinking tea is part of Vietnamese culture!"

From then on, I practiced drinking tea like a baby practices eating solid food. At first, I diluted it and drank a little, then gradually increased the "difficulty". Up to now, although I can't drink as much tea as everyone else, I can still welcome guests with a cup of tea in a warm and sincere manner.