Is there a drink that you usually have, not because you like it but because of how it makes you feel?
I do it a lot. Although I don't really like how coffee tastes, I drink it just because I like how it makes me feel; content and calm. I like its smell as well. I believe that's why while having coffee, I always eat something sweet because I don't savour the flavour itself.
The very first time I tried coffee was in Tanzania in 2019, during my first trip abroad. During the mornings of my stay in a remote village in Dodoma, I used to have a cup of coffee with some chapati, a kind of flatbread that I like. I mean I really like how chapati tastes, not only how it makes me feel.
Since then, whenever I have coffee, I remember those days. It's like an incentive that reminds me I made my dream of traveling come true, and more dreams can come true too.
Last year, an American friend taught me to make a drink she made up. She used to add fenugreek, turmeric, coconut oil and some honey as a sweetener to a cup of hot water. This drink tasted to me so similar to Moghat, an Egyptian drink recommended for women after giving birth. Moghat is made from moghat powder (a mix of fenugreek, anise, turmeric, corn flour, and coconut), cooked in ghee and sugar.
I vividly remember that my mother used to have it after she gave birth to my brother. She had the delivery at home with the help of her aunt, who was a kind of uncertified midwife.
For a few days after the labour, she was given moghat, chicken and soup to help her recover her health and increase breastmilk flow. While sitting beside her, she used to share some chicken and moghat with me. At that time, I was almost six years old. I was going to join school the next academic year.
Hence, Moghat, in my mind, is associated with these moments, sitting close to my mother, being fed by her.
Although Fenugreek causes sweat and urine to smell pungent, which I dislike, I'm making my friend's version of Moghat these days. I miss my mother and I miss how safe I used to feel around her. The drink somehow calms me down.
P.S. Which title do you prefer: Beyond The Drinks or Drinks And Emotions?
Thank you for sharing your story! It was fascinating to read. I once experienced Omani coffee and I imagined your coffee might be similar.
I like both tea and coffee, but normally I stay away from caffeine, so I drink tea which have no caffeine.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Yumi!
Do you drink tea every day? If so, how would you feel if you skipped it one day?
I never thought about it, but I definitely will miss it!
When I skip having coffee or tea once after several months of having it every day, I get a headache.
That's a very interesting effect! I drink a cup of coffee every day because coffee has polyphenol, but that's it. I normally drink non-caffeine tea a lot. You definitely need at least a cup of tea or coffee every day. I don't like spending a day with a headache.
I commented and didn’t send it! I prefer Drinks and Emotions. I drink tea first thing, and mid afternoon. I drink hot chocolate with breakfast and at some other times, coffee all the rest of the time!
Thanks for the comment, @MusiqueGraeme! So you have breakfast quite late!
Would you consider mint, chamomile, anise, or ginger drinks and whatnot kinds of tea, @yumiyumayume?
I've planted chamomile and started harvesting. I've also planted mint as well. In the fall, I look forward to picking rose hips from my roses too. I make tea with those and love it!
Breakfast is at 8am.... First thing is 6:30....
I misread your comment and thought you had breakfast around mid-afternoon, @MusiqueGraeme.
@yumiyumayume, I've had chamomile a lot the last few days and I liked it. I like herb drinks in general which usually are called tea in English but I don't like to call them tea because tea for me is the black tea. :)))
I like chamomile so-called tea as well. Right now my mint is growing wildly, and I'm thinking to pick some and make tea from those. It might be very refreshing! I understand how you feel from the herbal tea.
Have you either had green tea? Or Rooibos tea from South Africa?? :) https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/rooibos-tea-bags.html?msclkid=f251a9428cb31b1b66d2c11cdd3785e8
Enjoy the mint, Yumi!
I tried the green tea before but not Rooibos tea!
Thank you, ZZ. I hope you enjoy the green tea and rooibos tea.