Tea Blog

There is something about a good cup of tea that makes almost any activity feel a little more special. Reading a favorite book, catching up on household tasks, sharing conversation with friends, or gathering around a game table all seem more enjoyable when accompanied by a freshly brewed pot of tea.

That certainly proved true when my husband and I recently played our first game of backgammon together.

Tea and Game Night

Game nights have long been a favorite pastime in our household. Whether gathered around the table on a quiet evening or entertaining ourselves during a storm-induced power outage, board games provide a wonderful excuse to slow down and spend time together.

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed classics such as Scrabble, UpWords, Mille Bornes, Monopoly, and chess. Yet one game remained strangely untouched despite sitting on our shelf for more than a decade: backgammon.

The set was there. The pieces were there. The rules were there. Somehow, however, we had never actually played it together.

Giving Backgammon Another Chance

Part of the delay was my fault.

I had learned to play backgammon years earlier, and the game carried memories I wasn’t especially eager to revisit. Sometimes activities become associated with particular periods in life, making them difficult to enjoy in the same way later on.

Fortunately, time has a way of changing perspectives.

I’ve found that many experiences become much more enjoyable when shared with the right person, and revisiting backgammon with my husband proved to be one of them.

It was time to replace old memories with new ones.

Every Great Game Begins with Tea

No game night should begin without tea.

Before the first piece is moved or the first card is dealt, a pot of freshly brewed tea helps set the tone for an enjoyable evening.

The ideal tea for gaming should be flavorful, comforting, and engaging without becoming distracting. It should encourage focus while helping everyone remain relaxed and good-natured—even when the competition becomes spirited.

For us, the choice was Lapsang Souchong.

Its distinctive smoky aroma has a way of commanding attention and lingering pleasantly between sips. Few teas are as memorable, and its bold character seemed perfectly suited to an evening spent learning a new game.

Other Excellent Teas for Board Games

While Lapsang Souchong was our selection, plenty of other teas make excellent companions for a game night.

• Sylvakandy Estate Ceylon Black Tea — Smooth, flavorful, and particularly enjoyable with milk and a touch of sweetener.
• Jasmine Green Tea — Floral, fragrant, and refreshing, providing a lighter alternative to stronger black teas.
• English Breakfast Tea — A classic crowd-pleaser that pairs well with snacks and desserts.
• Assam Tea — Rich and malty, ideal for longer gaming sessions.

A generous pot of any of these teas can easily last through multiple rounds of gameplay.

Learning the Rules Together

As with many classic games, backgammon appears deceptively simple until the rules are explained.

There were points to understand, pieces to move, dice to interpret, and strategies to consider. More than once we paused to consult the rulebook and make sure we were doing things correctly.

Thankfully, the tea helped maintain a calm and cheerful atmosphere while we worked our way through the learning process.

After all, the goal wasn’t necessarily to become backgammon masters in a single evening. The goal was simply to enjoy ourselves.

More Than Just a Game

Many traditional board games share a common characteristic: they are less about the game itself and more about the time spent together.

Winning is enjoyable, of course, but the real value often comes from conversation, laughter, shared experiences, and the little traditions that develop around the activity.

For us, tea has become one of those traditions.

A pot on the table somehow transforms an ordinary evening into an occasion worth remembering.

The Perfect Pairing: Tea and Togetherness

By the end of the evening, we had successfully navigated the basics of backgammon, enjoyed plenty of tea, and even managed to keep things entirely civil.

No game pieces were thrown. No cupcakes became projectiles. No accusations of cheating were made.

Most importantly, we had far more fun than either of us expected.

Perhaps it was the novelty of finally opening that long-neglected backgammon set. Perhaps it was the tea. Perhaps it was simply the pleasure of spending time together.

Most likely, it was a combination of all three.

The Bottom Line

Tea has a wonderful ability to elevate everyday moments. Whether paired with a favorite board game, a good book, or an evening with family and friends, it encourages us to slow down and appreciate the experience.

And if there’s a pot of tea on the table, even a decades-old backgammon set can suddenly become the source of a memorable evening.

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles in this archive of tea lifestyle, entertaining, and tea culture articles.

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