I love tea in china teacups. It captures all kinds of cultural and historic overtones—the ladies of Jane Austen’s era exchanging tidbits of gossip along with spoons of sugar, the velvet-covered steel of women’s influence in days gone by, distinctive and very feminine patterns of flowers and swoops and gold tracings.

I’m not sure why. Certainly my family background didn’t lend itself to gentility. On both sides my ancestors were workers, tillers of the soil, hammerers of nails, sellers of dry goods. Whether they even had time to slurp a refined saucer (yes, tea used to be drunk from a saucer, especially if hot), I doubt.

Tea in a china cup is different from a mug of tea or a glass of iced tea. It encourages lingering over, especially with friends. Confidences to be shared, trusts to be built. If I’m alone, it signals relaxation and thoughtfulness, qualities I’ve learned to value as I matured.

I’m guessing if we could get political leaders to sit down over a cuppa, our talks about disarmament and the economy would progress much faster. How can someone think angry thoughts while sipping the fragrant yet simple taste of tea.

So put on the kettle, find your favorite type of drink, put your feet up, and savor. Tea anyone?