The Soundtrack to Eating: Here’s the Tea

Steaming! Foam-y! Flowery! Refreshing! Just like music, you can have your tea any way you’d like. We’ve compiled a list of songs that match the vibes of your favorite teas: a music lover’s cup of tea and a tea connoiseur’s dream playlist.

The Soundtrack to Eating is a series in which staff writers write about how food and music are intertwined.

Written by Heather Stewart

Illustrated by Izabella Padilla

Tea’s diverse flavors paired with its mix-and-match modes of consumption make it a perfect drink for morning, afternoon, and nighttime. Everyone knows it’s the perfect pairing for breakfast pastries, sore throats, or tapioca pearls, but tea also finds an unlikely companion in music. We’ve crafted the perfect melodic pairings for your next cup of delectable dried leaves, boiling water, and whatever else your tea-loving heart desires — whether the sun is just waking you up, you’re out and about on a busy day, or you and your partner are getting cuddled up under the covers.

BLACK TEA WITH HONEY: SUGAR KANE BY SONIC YOUTH

It’s a classic drink with a dulce twist. This earthy, hot brew is simplicity to a T (pun intended) , but that’s what makes it a staple for regular tea drinkers. While black tea isn’t at black-coffee-and-cigarette-grunge status, it still has the timeless vibe of grunge rock music. That’s why Sonic Youth’s “Sugar Kane” is the soulmate for this comfort classic. There are theories that this guitar-driven track is about cocaine, but it’s easy to pretend that tea is the chemical vice that the iconic ‘80s rock and roll band is referencing. As for the honey, the closing lyrics can pay homage to the spoonful of sweet goodness that takes the classic drink to the next level: “I love you, sugar.”

LONDON FOG: SUNLIGHT BY HOZIER

The melding of frothy milk, earl gray tea, and vanilla syrup in this five-star-barista-level drink is magical. It’s like a warm hug on a chilly day or the feeling you get after walking out of a freezing movie theater and into the sun. Smooth like Hozier’s mesmerizing vocals, London Fogs are perfect to drink while listening to “Sunlight.” The soulful piano and gospel background vocals on this healing Hozier track mirror the glowing feeling that manifests when you try this godly drink for the first time. Have your earbuds handy next time you swing by your neighborhood coffee shop to order a London Fog to further elevate this delightful drink experience.

STARBUCKS ICED PASSION TANGO TEA: GEMINI BY THE GO! TEAM

This bright pink concoction makes taste buds dance. Critics may argue that this Starbucks staple is borderline juice, but there’s actually no sugar in the drink! Whatever customers call it, they tend to either love or hate it — just like a stereotypically “two-faced” astrological sign. “Gemini” by The Go! Team captures the fruity, bubblegum-sweet flavor notes in this hibiscus, lemongrass, and apple infused refresher. With its electronic lazer instrumentals, tropical drums, and fast-paced vocals, the modern, yet still retro track embodies this electrifying beverage.

ARIZONA GREEN TEA: I NEED FUN IN MY LIFE BY THE DRUMS

Gas station girls (and truck drivers) rise! AriZona Green Tea was a staple in the average middle schooler’s diet circa 2012, so drinking this mystery can today is basically inner-child healing. The Drums’ “I Need Fun in My Life” captures the heart of this nostalgic supermarket go-to. The bouncy track takes listeners through a journey of regretful reflection: “You’d think I would know / All the answers to the questions before I get old / But I’ve spent too much time thinking.” In the chorus, the lead eagerly pines about his need to return to fun. When you’re sick of sophisticated flavors, a sip of AriZona Green Tea can bring back the childlike flavors that your palate craves.

TARO MILK TEA WITH BOBA: HER BY MEGAN THEE STALLION

Let’s be real, boba tea is that bitch! Taro root milk tea is a fan favorite for bubble tea, as its nutty notes are the perfect match for sugary tapioca pearls. And for those who don’t like the popular beauty of a drink: “I don’t care if these bitches don’t like me / ‘Cause, like, I’m pretty as fuck.” No, the tea didn’t actually say that, but Megan Thee Stallion did on her hit single, “Her.” The upbeat, unapologetic rap track carries the same confidence as this Instagrammable drink.

ICED THAI MILK TEA: ALL NIGHT BY SADIE

This orange delight of a drink is a must-order anytime you frequent a Thai restaurant, along with the Pad Thai. But beware, ordering Thai tea with your dinner may have you up until the sun rises. It’s so delicious, though, that it’s worth the risk — just like hyperpop artist sadie sings about in her electronic single “All Night.” With auto-tuned vocals, sadie repeats: “Got me / Up all night / But I don’t mind.” This sparkly, synthesized track is sprinkled with a laundry list of funky sounds, similar to Thai Tea’s unique ingredient list: black tea, star anise, sugar, crushed tamarind, sweetened condensed milk, cardamom, and the food coloring that gives the creamy drink its iconic orange hue.

ROSE HERBAL TEA: SWEET BY ALICE PHOEBE LOU

The rose is romantic by nature, and the tea form of the flower is no different. The bright, delicate aromatics of rose tea leave you feeling like an elegant princess with hundreds of suitors fighting for your hand in marriage. But really, you’re in love with your best friend, and that’s all you daydream about while sipping. Maybe you’re even treating this floral drink as a love spell. Alice Phoebe Lou’s “Sweet” is the perfect soundtrack for whatever fantasies or fairytales come to life while consuming this luxurious beverage. The sweet narrative of this acoustic lullaby sounds like it was pulled straight out of a storybook.

LAVENDER TEA: GOD TURN ME INTO A FLOWER BY WEYES BLOOD

When the moon says hello, lavender tea helps you rest, saving you from the inevitable existentialism that rolls around past midnight. This fragrant, floral tea soothes the body and the soul. It can even help re-establish your natural circadian rhythm. The peace that comes with consuming this soothing concoction can also be found by listening to “God Turn Me Into a Flower” by Weyes Blood. The ethereal, angelic vocals and contemplative lyrics keep the overthinking at bay, similar to lavender tea. There’s a sense of oneness with Earth echoed throughout this Weyes Blood track. Maybe we can’t actually become a flower, but we can drink the watery essence of one.

No matter how you drink your tea, we’ve got you covered sonically. Unless you skip the tea completely for a coffee. That’ll be a different playlist altogether.

AESTHETICSAfterglow ATXFebruary 22, 2023heather stewart, soundtrack, soundtrack to eating, tea, izabella padilla