When I’m not brewing tea, I’m watching movies. Usually, I’m doing both at the same time. So when a cup of tea ends up on the screen, my interests come full circle. Here are my top five favorite tea scenes in the movies.
#5 Dolores Umbridge’s Office- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Don’t let the pink sweater fool you, Professor Umbridge is one of the most insufferable and cruel villains in the Harry Potter series. However, her office is stunning: talk about teaware-envy! Her pink-painted tower room is lined with dozens of adorable plates and saucers, and the porcelain kittens that adorn each piece actually prance around and meow (this is the wizarding world after all). All the cuteness belies her nasty nature.
If you feel inspired by Umbridge’s tea-style, try brewing up Chocolate Covered Strawberries blend from Shuswap Infusions: it’s pink, bold, decadent, and certainly won’t take no for an answer.
#4 Liver Disaster- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
“There’s more than one kind of tea?” Scott Pilgrim might be in over his head when it comes to spending time with Ramona Flowers, a fact that is only emphasized when confronted with Ramona’s extensive tea collection. She rattles off the flavors in her cabinet with cool confidence, and– as far as I can tell– only makes up one of the tea names. While I haven’t tried her fabled “liver disaster” tea, I’d be happy to sit down for a cup of tea with Ramona anytime.
The characters in this scene opt to brew sleepytime tea. I recommend a cup of my one of my favorite herbal blends, Unity from Tealuxe.
#3 The Plan- Shaun of the Dead
Shaun’s plan for surviving a zombie apocalypse ultimately ends with having a pint at the Winchester pub and waiting for it all to blow over. But early drafts of the plan ended in having cup of tea at the apartment instead. Take a page out of Shaun’s book: brew up a cuppa and wink your way through your worst days.
Maybe try a cup of Happy Zom ‘bie-tea’ from Design A Tea while you wait for it all to blow over.
#2 Meringue Mask- Mrs. Doubtfire
HEL-LOOO! Caught in a pickle without his Mrs. Doubtfire mask on, Daniel Hillard hides his identity from a visiting social worker by covering his face in frosting and calling it a meringue mask. The disguise slowly melts in his haste to brew two cups of tea, dollops of beauty-frosting falling into the mugs. I recommend brewing up a cup with plenty of milk and sugar, maybe even some vanilla frosting for good measure.
Give it a try with the classy, vanilla-based blend, Everest Earl Grey from Nepali Tea Traders.
Buzz Lightyear has been through the wringer on this mission, and by the time Woody finds him, the spaceman is having an identity crisis. Decked out in a floral hat and pink, ruffled apron, Buzz is deep in his cups, answering only to Mrs. Nesbitt. “One minute you’re defending the whole galaxy, and, suddenly, you find yourself sucking down Darjeeling with Marie Antoinette and her little sister!” Some days the world is so maddening you just need to put on a pretty hat and lose it for a while.
Or maybe you just need a strong enough tea to kick you into gear when you’re down-and-out. I recommend Miss Figgy from Tea & Tins. It’s no Mrs. Nesbitt, but it’ll do the trick.
Honorable Mention: I have to give an honorable mention to The Simpsons for this scene with Homer, his stolen sugar, and a mischievous Englishman.
Until next time, happy brewing and happy watching!
