Not My Cup of Tea
It is surprising how almost two decades have passed and I have yet to taste flower tea, so here’s what I went through drinking only chamomile tea or water for a week.
Story and photos by: Desiree Chua
Those who know me would know that I am fond of drinking sweet drinks. My top three picks would, without fail, be iced Milo, Sprite and milk tea. From time to time, I’ve felt guilty for my unhealthy choices and attempted to drink water instead. However, the most I could drink in a day was less than 300 ml.
When my team came up with the idea to drink flower tea for a week, specifically Chamomile tea, I was intrigued. However, as I silently witnessed a mix of responses from the team, I became doubtful.
The rules set by our team would be to drink one tea bag worth of Chamomile tea per day. Should we finish the tea, water would be the only alternative.
We dreaded drinking the Chamomile tea since we had heard comments about how bitter it tastes or how unpleasant it smells. However, we put on happy faces and were determined to start and end the challenge well.
I remember preparing the Chamomile tea in the morning on the first day of the challenge. During the process, I honestly thought it did not smell as bad due to the spearmint in the tea bag. When it came to lunch time, my team and I gathered to drink the tea together. As we all took the first sip, most of our faces quickly scrunched into revulsion and some even made gagging noises.
As the days went by, it soon became a routine. It subsequently became easier to drink the tea as I got used to its smell and taste.
During this period of time, I was counting down the number of days left till the end of the challenge. But, before I knew it, it was over. I rejoiced quietly in my heart, and felt a sense of relief.
I really did not have any expectations but only wished that the taste of the Chamomile tea would be more bearable. I honestly think that I will never dare to try any flower tea again.
Watch the video below to find out how the team reacted to the flower tea challenge!
