Tea drinking in the UK is more than just a beverage choice—it’s a culture, even a tradition in some workplaces. You might find ‘tea rotas’ in offices, complete with detailed drink descriptions for each staff member. For someone like me, coming from Nigeria, where tea meant something entirely different, the adjustment was both amusing and challenging.
When I started working here, the space beside my name on the tea rota remained blank. My colleagues noticed my absence from tea breaks and social gatherings, as reflected in early reports that painted me as “not socialising, always locked in my room during breaks.” My seat in the doctors’ mess or staff room was mostly vacant—except during academic meetings.
However, as weeks passed and my confidence grew, I decided to embrace the culture. My drink of choice went from nothing to:
- Hot water 💧
- Hot Ribena or squash 🍇
- And eventually, hot tea (2 sugars and MORE THAN A SPLASH of milk 🥛).
Admittedly, the bracketed words made me feel like a hypocritical doctor 👩🏽⚕️—preaching diabetes prevention while enjoying a sweetened, creamy cup of tea. Most of my colleagues, the “research-based doctors,” preferred no sugar and just a splash of milk.
Beyond tea, I’ve grown to appreciate cranberry juice. Though sour, it’s scientifically proven to help prevent urinary tract infections—and I can personally attest to its benefits.
The Culture Shock of Tea
For me, “tea” was not Milo, not Bournvita, and definitely not Bayliss. Growing up in Nigeria, tea meant Lipton, brewed in shiny stainless steel teapots 🫖 by my parents. I remember my mum and dad sipping their hot Lipton or Nescafé while beads of sweat rolled down their faces in our hot dining room.
Meanwhile, my siblings and I were busy blowing air into our steaming mugs of Milo, trying to finish breakfast before heading to school. Picture this:
- Aba heat + Parents’ Lipton/Nescafé + Children’s Milo + Ijeoma bread/Bonsac/Ofoma bread 🍞 = a weekday breakfast in the homes of the 90s.
Weekends were even more special, with akara, moimoi, and akamu or custard gracing the table before Saturday chores began.
Reflecting on these memories reminds me of the communal warmth of Nigerian breakfast traditions—contrasting with the individual tea preferences here in the UK.
Adapting to Tea Culture in the Workplace
The adjustment process wasn’t just about drinking tea—it was about connecting with colleagues and understanding how these small rituals foster camaraderie. By stepping into this tea culture, I found myself forming bonds with people and learning about their quirks through their drink preferences.
As a Nigerian living in the UK, I’m constantly balancing the joy of integrating into a new culture with preserving the essence of my roots. Adapting to life here isn’t just about learning the work culture but also about embracing its quirks, like tea drinking, while cherishing the rich traditions we grew up with.
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