“The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea” by Faizah Muhammad: A metaphor reflecting the struggles of communism 4 min read
The Berlin Wall wasn’t the only thing that collapsed in 1989. Only a month after the fall of the wall, the demise of tyranny in Romania followed.
On Christmas Day 1989, Romanians decided that enough was enough and changed the nation’s history. First, Timișoara rebelled, followed by other cities that stood up to the corruption which had eaten their hopes alive. Most of the campaigners were young dreamers who risked their lives for a brighter future, shouting “down with communism”.
Violence was endorsed as the country fought for its redemption from a repressive regime.
Romanian-born author and filmmaker Faizah Muhammad encapsulates this groundbreaking event in her new book, The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea, released on 1 December 2025– which also happens to be Romania’s Independence Day. The story signifies the importance of bravery, resilience, and family betrayal as the result of political polarisation.
At the heart of The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea, Faizah wanted to eliminate stereotypes associated with the West’s perception of Romania by demonstrating how welcoming and generous Romanian people are, despite the negative media portrayal absorbed over the years.
She believed that the people had immense power and stuck together throughout tough times – an act that should be commemorated.
There is more to the old Dacian country than the overdone Dracula references. A new world was single-handedly birthed by ordinary people and has, at times, gone unnoticed. Faizah felt responsible for breaking the stigma, but wanted to do so through an approach that relived the past.
In a recent interview following the book’s release, Faizah and I discussed what ignited the idea and, out of all events, why she chose the Romanian Revolution of 1989. It is worth noting that neither of us was alive when the events unfolded. Growing up, these were merely tales, almost bedtime stories.
When Faizah moved to the UK, she felt homesick, yearning for stories about Romania’s pre-revolution that she heard from people in her circle: neighbours and teachers alike. She told me that she became “obsessed” with it and had to satisfy her curiosity. In turn, she created a small world, envisioning what life might have been like back then.
The idea came from a dream-like state, and the title itself reflects a deeper meaning. Faizah dreamt about the book before she began writing it. She made a cup of tea and left it on her windowsill before drifting off, and when she woke up, she had dreamt of the book being published. The cup of cold, untouched tea was still there.
The book’s title also references the country’s communist leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, whose nickname – Ceasca – literally translates to “cup”. These cups are illustrated on the cover of the book.
By merging these ideas, Faizah created the title The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea to honour the long-forgotten pain endured by innocent people under tyranny.
The creative process was not all smooth sailing. Some individuals openly expressed hateful comments towards the fact that Faizah is part of an ethnic minority.
The son of a member of the Partidul Social Democrat (Romania’s Social Democratic Party) – who at Faizah’s request will remain unnamed – vocally attacked her online, using derogatory slurs related to her Indian and Pakistani heritage. This uncalled-for situation caught the attention of Girl Up Romania, an organisation founded within the United Nations Foundation in 2010 and closely connected to UN advocacy efforts. Ever since, they’ve been championing Faizah’s work.
From a contextual standpoint, in November 2024, during the presidential elections, a wave of far-right campaigners started to emerge. At that time, Faizah was still writing the book. She described these followers as the “Romanian version of MAGA”.
When I asked Faizah whether she believed the political scene had improved, even slightly, since the overthrow of the regime, she was apprehensive.
The effects of communism still linger. Not only mentally, but also physically, in the gunshots from December 1989 that remain engraved in buildings. Streets are named after heroes who stepped forward for the freedom of their country.
In The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea, Faizah validates all perspectives, accepting both sides as she collected opinions from Ceaușescu’s advocates and opponents alike. It’s common knowledge that those who benefited from the corrupt system had it better.
She said, “It’s important to understand that these people had the courage to say no to occupation”.
“This is what our past looks like because of them. Our people died for our freedom, do we want history to repeat itself?”
She hopes that soon there will be a breath of fresh air against propaganda, and that the country will pave a new road for generations to come.
The book includes a moving quote from Mihai Eminescu, the country’s most renowned poet, which translates as:
“The greatest sin of man is fear – the fear of looking straight ahead and recognising the truth”.
