What does tea represent to Vera in the novel, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers?

For Vera, tea represents connection. Every time she meets someone new, she immediately considers what kind of tea will help them the most. With each of her suspects, for example, Vera picks ingredients meant to soothe their minds, ease their stomachs, kickstart their creativity, and a variety of other needs. This is why Vera always demands that visitors or friends drink tea. It brings people together, warms them up to each other, and encourages everyone to meet on equal footing.