Nana Tea

Each day around 4 o’clock I stop my blurry eyes in the monotonous world of industrial sales for a moment of “tea time”. Today was no different. Today, I sipped a smooth and sugary cup of what our Israeli friends would call “Nana (Mint) Tea” and took a stroll down memory lane...back to my Holy Land adventures with companions Melissa & Danyne (cousins).

My mind drifts back to the many weekends spent in the Old City of Jerusalem with our shopkeeper friends in the low-ceiling hole-in-the-wall shops containing large shallow trays of good smelling seasonings and flaky, gooey pastries...or artifacts and jewelry...or middle-eastern clothing and trinkets. Many of the shopkeepers knew us girls by name, and if not, they assumed we were “BYU” (must have been the modest clothing). Some of our visits included helping them make jewelry, put items neatly on the shelf, count money, you know the USUAL?? It was a time of reckless abandon, an almost unrealistic experience.

This brings me back to the best part: the Nana Tea. As we would come into the shops, they would have us take a seat, and enjoy a fine clear-glass brewing with hot water and fresh mint leaves and about an inch of pure white sugar in the bottom of the glass. This was their “Nana Tea”. It was refreshing and delicious, and the cousins and I would often be found singing out the old Jaci Velasquez song (our version of course)….”Na na na na na na na, Nana Nana tea! Oh ooo oh oooh oooh oh oh”. It took us showing them proof of the original song for them to finally be convinced we didn't completely make it up :)

For me, every cup of mint tea will take me back to the great times we Three Amigos had together. Though it's harder now as Danyne resides in Africa/Melissa in San Antonio, I think we still have many more memories to come!