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We’re officially closing our very first Tea Time by WPKitchen, which ran unofficially alongside WordCamp US 2025 (August 26–29).
We had started this initiative a month before the event. Our dream was simple: to share 100 cups of tea across continents, connecting WordCamp attendees in America with the WordPress community in Pakistan. We believed that a warm cup, even shared in spirit, could bridge thousands of miles.
But dreams rarely unfold without hurdles. On the receiving side, in Pakistan, hearts and hands were open. The community was ready, eager, waiting. Although a few cups remain reserved, some participants have either declined to accept them or haven’t responded despite multiple follow-ups. We kindly request that if you’re unable to cooperate, please refrain from participating in our giveaway, as it will help save time and effort for both sides.
The real challenge came from where we least expected — from those we hoped would pour the first cup. Many attendees delayed their responses, some stayed silent, and a few hesitated. What we thought would be a river became a slow trickle.
And yet — that trickle mattered. Out of 100 cups, 35 were served and 10 were reserved. Forty-five stories of generosity, forty-five connections made possible because people believed in an idea.
I especially want to thank James Sansbury for supporting the entire Tea Time by WPKitchen and co-owned the campaign. Your contribution made it possible to bring this unique experiment to life during WordCamp US.
And there were others — twelve tea sponsors — Bud Kraus, Hammad Shahzad, Farhan Aziz, Woody Hayday, Baljinder Singh, Per Casey, Michael Morales, Tobias Bäthge, Chris Badgett, Katie Keith, Mark Westguard, and Dustin Hyle. Each of them became part of this story, each cup carrying their name across oceans.
So, was this a failure? Did we fall short? No. Failure is when you never begin, when you never dare. We began. We dared. And we learned.
The lesson is clear: presence matters. If we are there, in the heart of the event, the flow will be faster and the impact will be deeper. And that’s why our eyes are now set on WordCamp Islamabad, October 18–19, 2025. This will be Tea Time #02 — stronger, bolder, more exciting.
To our giveaway participants, your photographs of tea were more than pictures. They were proof that an idea brewed in one place can warm hands in another. You gave us confidence. You showed us that a shared cup is never just tea — it’s trust, it’s community, it’s hope.
So, here we stand, not with 100 cups, but with 45 victories. And we promise you: the next chapter will be written with even greater spirit.
How could we forget our chief guest, Matt Mullenweg? He graciously allowed us to reserve the very first spot in his name. We’ll continue this tradition in our upcoming Tea Times, where the winner will be the one who joins us first.
See you soon, during WordCamp Islamabad — with another kettle boiling.