Arabian tea, better alternative to alcohol, says Beckie Okemini-Mba

At Abuja’s ever-buzzy Truck Central relaxation hub, where food aromas mingle with soft music and the hum of daily and weekend laughter, one small corner stands apart, quieter, warmer and intentional. This is TEA BY BANKSSS, an Arabian tea outfit run by the quietly confident but fiercely visionary, Mrs. Rebecca Okemini-Mba.

Though the space is dominated by loud celebration, she invites people to rediscover calm through one cup of Arabian tea at a time. For her, tea is not just a drink, it’s a lifestyle, a lesson, a return to balance in a world that rushes too fast and numbs too easily.

She’s become a subtle but steady advocate for healthier relaxation, urging Nigerians to pick warmth over intoxication, tradition over excess, grounding over spiralling.

In this interview, she breaks down the heart of her mission and why Arabian tea might just be the quiet revolution we all need.

Tea By Banksss has become one of the most talked-about spots at Truck Central. What inspired you to create an Arabian tea brand in the middle of Abuja’s nightlife energy?

Honestly, it started from a desire to offer something different. Abuja has enough bottles, enough shots and enough “turn-up.”

I wanted to create a calming corner, a place where people can breathe and relax. And Arabian tea feels like the perfect bridge between culture and wellness. It carries history, aroma, ritual, and intention.

So even though Truck Central is loud enough to host its own concert, people still find their way here because tea has a way of calling the soul back home.

You’ve been very vocal about encouraging people to choose Arabian tea over alcohol. Why is this advocacy so important to you?

Before I answer that, I want you to understand that I don’t hate alcohol or people who take it. The reason I’ve always advocated for Arabian tea is because I’ve watched too many people use alcohol to escape, when what they really need is something more soothing and healthy.

Alcohol numbs but Arabian tea nurtures. Alcohol speeds up the heart but tea steadies it. Alcohol may make you forget but drinking our tea makes you reflect.

Like I said, my advocacy isn’t anti-alcohol, but it’s pro-balance and pro-wellness. Arabian tea, with its spices and herbs, is a natural detox. It relaxes the mind without clouding it. It lets you unwind without losing yourself. And if we’re being honest, not every celebration needs to be soaked in spirits. Sometimes, peace is enough.

What makes Arabian tea special? What are the health and cultural benefits you think people don’t talk about enough?

Arabian tea is like poetry in a cup. The ingredients like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, saffron, mint all carry healing properties. They aid digestion, calm anxiety, boost metabolism, and strengthen immunity. Culturally, Arabian tea teaches presence. You don’t “gulp” it like a shot; you experience it.

It’s tea with personality, with story, with memory. When people drink it here, they often say it feels like therapy disguised as a beverage.

Let’s get real for a moment. Many Nigerians still see Arabian tea as something for mornings or sick days, not for hanging out. How are you working to change that narrative?

By making it fun and social. Tea By Bankssss is not your grandmother’s kitchen. It’s vibrant, youthful, aesthetic, and community-driven. People sit, gist, flirt, process their day and week, all over tea. Once they taste it and feel that warm “reset” effect, they start coming back because their body remembers the difference.

Also, I pair tea with storytelling. Every cup here has meaning. People vibe with that more than you’d expect.

Would you say Arabian tea offers a lifestyle alternative to alcohol?

Absolutely. And here’s the comparison most people don’t think about: Alcohol takes you out of yourself; Arabian tea brings you back into yourself; Alcohol excites the nerves; tea soothes them; Alcohol leaves traces in the body but tea cleanses and restores.

So when I tell people to choose tea more often, it’s not a moral sermon, it’s a wellness hack. We deserve healthier ways to unwind. Life is hard enough; clarity shouldn’t be optional.

How has the response been from visitors at Truck Central?

Amazing, honestly. People come for curiosity and stay for comfort. I’ve had “hard guys” who said they only drink Hennessy secretly come back for refills of saffron tea. I love watching their faces the moment the flavour hits, that soft surrender.

It shows that deep down, everyone is craving something gentler.

What is your bigger vision for Tea By Bankssss?

I want to build a full Arabian tea culture in Nigerian lounges, franchises, products, experiences. A place where calm becomes cool again. A place where choosing clarity over chaos is celebrated.

If I can get even a fraction of Abuja to slow down and choose tea tonight, then I’m already winning.