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| Free tea tasting space at Huong Van Tea Culture Center, Phan Dinh Phung ward. |
In the lives of many young people today, inviting each other for a cup of tea during the workday or at the end of the afternoon has become commonplace. Sometimes it's just a simple pot of green tea, a glass of iced tea on the sidewalk, or a glass of lemon tea at a small shop, but that's enough to create a feeling of closeness and connection in friendship.
In Thai Nguyen , afternoon tea did not originate from an official ritual but quietly emerged in folk life nearly a hundred years ago, then was nurtured and spread more strongly through tea festivals in 2011, 2013, and 2015, gradually taking root and becoming a beautiful cultural feature of the community.
A cup of afternoon tea can sometimes be an effective bridge, helping to relieve stress and bring people closer together. For many young people, inviting someone for tea is not simply about drinking, but an opportunity to chat, share work and thoughts. Just a few casual conversations are enough to ease frustrations and bring a feeling of relief and relaxation after a busy day.
On a deeper level, afternoon tea also clearly reflects the cultural etiquette between the host and the invited. The line from Vu Cao's poem, "Sometimes you come, sometimes I go," can be applied to the spirit of tea-drinking, close to the traditional concept of "give and take." This interaction creates a harmonious and subtle cycle of interaction. However, if the naturalness is not maintained, the back-and-forth invitation can sometimes become stressful, losing its original meaning.
Therefore, afternoon tea is only truly beautiful when it stems from willingness and selflessness. Inviting someone for tea isn't about expecting a reciprocal gesture, but simply about sharing joy and relieving worries together. It is this simplicity that creates the enduring value of the tea-drinking culture.
Another interesting aspect of afternoon tea is its potential to educate on lifestyle and social skills. In many organizations, new employees often proactively invite others for tea as a way of showing their desire to integrate. Younger people invite older colleagues, newly promoted people invite colleagues – all small gestures that foster connection. Afternoon tea, therefore, becomes a gentle and refined communication ritual, helping to bridge gaps and foster friendliness within the collective.
Nowadays, afternoon tea has become quite popular in Thai Nguyen. Right in the central area of the province, many tea-drinking spaces are open free of charge, contributing to promoting tea products to tourists while gradually forming the habit of afternoon tea in daily life.
From then on, afternoon tea became a beautiful cultural tradition, spreading ever wider in the community. This is because afternoon tea, while seemingly simple, embodies elegance and politeness. The tea is offered from the heart, not just for show, becoming the foundation of a cultural value that combines enjoying tea with socializing, creating closeness and friendliness between people.
Afternoon tea often begins with simple gatherings. A small pot of tea is enough to warm hearts and nurture human connection. In today's digital age, where technology easily draws people into their own worlds , afternoon tea becomes a necessary moment of quiet reflection, allowing people to slow down. It's a time when phones, computers, and television screens are set aside so people can sit together, chat with friends and family, and thereby gain a deeper understanding and treat each other with sincerity.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202512/tra-chieu-mot-net-dep-van-hoa-f124dd4/
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