The Community Cup

Brewing stories through art, and the art of coffee and tea

By: Sheridan Block

Photo by Felicia Bass

Every morning, millions of feet drag across the kitchen floor, stumbling toward the coffee pot. Fingers fumble at switches until finally homes are filled with the energizing aroma of a batch of freshly brewed coffee. It’s not until the first sip hits that senses are jolted, bodies come to life, and the brain is ready to interact with others.

In a society focused on productivity and individuality, coffee is regarded as a personal and private ritual. It’s quite the opposite of traditions around the world, where coffee and tea are often at the center of daily gatherings. Times of the day when friends and family gather and gab, stories are shared, and a community is created.

WeaveTales, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit organization, recognized the role of coffee and tea in bringing people together. It hosted three events during its “Journey to Jacksonville” exhibit last month as a way to connect communities. The organization uses storytelling as a way to empower refugees and immigrants, as well as to educate others. And what better way to do that than sharing coffee and tea traditions from around the world?

On February 21st, one of WeaveTales’ featured storytellers shared the three-hour coffee tradition — bunna — from Eritrea.

“You don’t just make coffee and go,” she said. “(Coffee) is how we connect and talk and share and let the other person know that they’re special and loved.”

Photo by WeaveTales Staff

Brewing coffee in Eritrea and Ethiopia is not as simple as turning on a pot and going about your morning routine. It’s a lengthy process that can last up to three hours and is typically performed several times a day, with everything done by hand. Yet, spending so much time over a percolating pot emphasizes one key ingredient: people.

In Eritrea, everyone is as embedded in the coffee-making process as the one brewing. An important part of the ceremony is to bring the pan of freshly roasted beans before each guest in order to indulge in the sweet fragrance — a familiar aroma that feels like home. As the coffee brews, conversation ensues and guests enjoy an assortment of snacks traditionally served with coffee like nuts, himbasha (a traditional sweet bread), and popcorn.

Similarly in India, chai is a community affair.

“Any guest that comes to your home is treated as if God has come into your home,” said Saji George, an immigrant from India. During a special tea ceremony on March 7th, George shared her cozy homemade chai recipe and further explained the importance of tea in bringing the community together.

Chai time isn’t much of a performance as bunna is in Eritrea, but similarly, guests and hosts come together to slow down and catch up. A quick nap is also included with afternoon tea to perk up for work that often runs late into the night.

In addition to the idea of community with India’s tea is the understanding that each cup of chai is packed with healing properties. Leaves, herbs, and spices are mixed and matched to treat almost any sickness. Feeling under the weather? George said that crushed ginger and cardamom will do the trick. Sore throat and congestion? Just add cloves.

Using tea as a natural remedy for illness is a practice that transcends time and borders.

Wen Raiti, a Chinese immigrant and another featured “Journey to Jacksonville” storyteller, explained that tea is a 2,500+ year tradition in China that began in imperial palaces with royal families. What started as a search for a cure has transformed into daily preventative care.

“You want the tea to work with the body, to act as a boost or for prevention,” said Raiti. “It’s important to think of the long-term effects, not short-term.”

Much thought and attention to detail go into a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, which Raiti’s restaurant, House of Leaf & Bean, often performs for its guests in Jacksonville Beach. There are six types of tea: green, yellow, white, oolong, black (red), and dark (pu’er). Like a careful chemist, Raiti spends a lot of time researching different combinations to strike the perfect balance of a healthy blend.

Photo by WeaveTales Staff

“It’s like art. You have to have just the right amount to see what herbs work well together without being too strong for the body,” she said.

Whether brewed and sipped for energy or health, coffee and tea are global unifiers that create space for people to listen and be heard. That’s exactly what WeaveTales aims to do with its “Journey to Jacksonville” exhibit, which features the stories of seven refugee and immigrant women in the Jacksonville area community. Their stories highlight triumph over adversity and offer light to who may find themselves feeling hopeless.

“These stories are just so inspiring and encouraging and make you grateful for the country that we are in and born in,” said Ellen Cottrill, programs coordinator for the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, which helped bring the exhibit to life. “(These stories) make us want to open up our arms and envelop the people that want to come and be wonderful citizens in the society around us.”

Stories are also key in combating xenophobia, which has been amplified in recent U.S. history, specifically against the Asian American community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The root causes of xenophobia and resentment involve a lack of empathy and understanding,” said WeaveTales co-founder Basma Alawee, a former refugee from Iraq. “Many immigrants and refugees opt to leave their native nations and embark on what can often be a treacherous journey. Then they reach the United States, only to encounter this xenophobia.”

Alawee has lived in the U.S. for over a decade and still faces discrimination and racist remarks. To her, the first step in combating prejudice is providing immigrants and refugees a platform to start dialogue within their communities. WeaveTales facilitates this process through its New American Speakers Program, which is designed to help more newcomers to America share their experiences of migration and integration with the general public.

“With thousands of refugees relocating to the United States each year, a program designed to empower their voices and promote a more welcoming and inclusive community is desperately needed,” said Alawee.

The “Journey to Jacksonville” exhibit ended its display at the ARTSee & Shop Gallery on March 7th, yet it will continue its run at the Jacksonville International Airport from April until June. Some of the featured stories can also be found through WeaveTales’ Hearty Tables video series on Youtube. For more information about the exhibit and WeaveTales, visit www.weavetales.org.

Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of WeaveTales and its employees.

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