The Bhutanese cup culture

A colleague and I were visiting an official in the government sector, and we were discussing a few things. He called his assistant and told her to bring us some tea. He asked us if we wanted tea or coffee. “Black coffee please with sugar,” I said. My colleague said tea would be fine for him.

We were still into discussion when his assistant came back with a tray in her hand with tea and coffee. The officer was offered first in a shining, expensive cup while my colleague and I were given in simple plain cups.

 The official felt uncomfortable because my colleague also held a position equal to him although we worked in a private firm. He offered his cup to my colleague but he politely declined.

I do not know where and when this cup culture started from but it exists everywhere, even in our homes. At home we understand that people like to have personal cups but in meeting and offices you are offered a cup depending on your position.

During meetings even when people are sitting on the same desk tea in the cups offered are different. If the other person is sitting on a higher chair the different cup offered is reasonable but when people sit on the same level tea offered in different cups create discomfort.

Going by the cup, the host is always in a higher position because the host either has a fancy cup or a bigger one compared to the guest…