Tweet

The Ritual of Tea in our Fast-paced Life

Written by: Gloria Starr

Article Overview: Take time for tea and discover the rituals and the elegance of a few quiet moments in our busy day.

The Ritual of Tea in our Fast-paced Life

As the pendulum begins to swing away from casual business dressing
and toward a return to elegance, we are also experiencing the return
of manners, etiquette and the social graces.

The art and ceremony of TEA has made a comeback for business and
social entertaining. In most major cities, one or more hotels now serve
low tea and/or high tea between the hours of two and six o'clock.
Low tea comes with small sandwiches and sweets rather than the more
abundant selection that is considered high tea.

Tea is incredibly civilized and is a gracious and refined way to do business.
Imagine sitting down in a quiet, elegant area of a hotel away from the frantic
pace of the office and the timeless ritual of tea begins. A hot, steaming pot
of tea, properly steeped with some light sandwiches and the mind and the body
seem both energized and relaxed.

To be a truly gracious host consider ordering tea for the table and acting as
host or hostess and pouring the tea. Or, if the tea is brought to the table in
individual pots, each person should pour their own tea. Tea is served with
lemon or milk, never cream.

In India, a delightful tea is enjoyed by adding the loose tea leaves, milk,
cinnamon sticks and cloves into the tea pot and allowing them to steep
for several minutes before being brought to the table. In England you will
be asked if you prefer your tea black or white.

Proper etiquette is to stir once or twice using the teaspoon and then set
the spoon on the saucer. Use the teaspoon quietly and do not lick the spoon.
If using milk, add the milk to the cup prior to pouring the tea.

Business can be discussed before tea is served, during tea or after tea.
The Ritz is famous the world over for serving an elegant tea. I always
make a point of enjoying tea at an upscale hotel when traveling on business.

Related Articles
  100 Ways to Succeed #83
  Starting the day
  Chai Ritual as Yoga for Relaxation
  Rituals: The Fabric of a High-performing Team
  Time To Swap Rituals

Article Tags: etiquette, Gloria Starr, tea etiquette



Related Forum Posts
The Second Life Platform - Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.
Re: The Second Life Platform - [quote="JBunion":fhe23fsu]Greetings! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of or are sensitive to Second Life and its related entities. However, Second Life is a fantastic platform to mimmick real life business operations in a real currency based economy. There are plenty of successful stories for creative individuals, but I'd highly suggest doing your research and appreciating Second Life for what it is, and what it isn't.[/quote:fhe23fsu] Hi JBunion, I've heard about the site. So are you currently a member? And more importantly, have you tried to open a store front in that virtual world?
Re: Charge what you're worth - [quote="Tami Szabo":292ze3jd]People will pay you what you ask. Very few will ever up the price. You are the one who decided what you are worth. The key is that we believe our services are worth the price we are asking.[/quote:292ze3jd] Hi Tami, You're absolutely right. In "Think and Grow Rich", Jessie B. Rittenhouse says "For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial's hire Only to learn, dismayed , That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid" (Napoleon Hill 35). I think the same can be said when setting prices on eBay or Craigslist, especially when people are trying to haggle you.
Re: Favorite Christmas movies - [quote="OmnivoreInk":1rxsgr0t]I do have to say I've never liked[i:1rxsgr0t] It's A Wonderful Life[/i:1rxsgr0t]. He spends all his life having his hopes and dreams shattered, feeling miserable, and its only at the end of his life that he can look back and realize how many friends he has, etc. But that doesn't change the fact that up until that point he was miserable![/quote:1rxsgr0t] I love the sentimentality around watching that movie with your Mom! Chtistmas is made up of all those sentimental things. "It's A Wonderful Life" is all about perspective, much in the same way that Scrooge is 'realigned' in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" - which I listen to on CD every year (sometimes twice!) Happy Christmas Everyone! Regards Martin
Second Life - Real $? - hi Mayra - have you actually made money from Second Life? Is it something can actually do as a business?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Executive Blind Spots

Sales Flubs

Download a template or see a lawyer?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.