I've loved tea (the darker and caffeinated kind) since I can remember. I've had all sort of teas over the years, but I do admit I got started with Lipton. Yeah, now I have tried all of them--in the USA, at least.
My favorite is English Breakfast (Bigelow Brand is my all-time favorite). Hands down. I tried to like Earl Grey (my father's name was Earl), but I think it's the Bergamot in it that I can't abide. I also like Green Tea, but it's just not the same. I had a run with Celestial Seasonings (Sleepytime?) teas, which were herbal in nature, but they didn't have the same "kick" that the caffeinated teas give. One tea just didn't agree with me, so my era with herbal teas ended in the 1980s.
I've not the digestive system for coffee. I love the way coffee smells. And that's where I'll leave it. For someone else to drink and enjoy. I'll just enjoy the aroma, thank you.
There's a great place in Charlottesville, VA, called Tea Bazaar on the Downtown Mall. I just LOVE the place. It reminds me of the old hippy coffee houses in the 1960s/70s......there is even a hookah bar in the back......They serve every type of tea you can imagine. And they are potent! The Cinnamon Chai about burned the back of my throat it was so strong, but I loaded it with sugar and it was fine! I was up all night too.....they even serve falafel and other interesting dishes.
During my many travels over the years, I've noticed tea drinkers get no respect. We have to look for the hot water--if there is any. I stay in a lot of hotels during my travels and have noticed that the coffee drinkers have everything there, but sometimes tea consumers have no place to put our tea bags. I always take my tea with milk and sometimes the containers are not near the tea service area (if there is a "tea service area"), so walking around trying to find everything in one location is the norm for tea drinkers. We are tired when we finally have it all together--oh, and where's the top? (Over where the coffee is).
At first, I really thought it was just me. But at a business meeting one morning, and on a couple of other occasions, I've spoken to other tea drinkers about this lack of proper tea protocol in certain hotels, restaurants and other public places serving coffee & tea, and they agree with me: Tea Drinkers Get No Respect!
I'd really love to go to the UK and experience a "High Tea" or even just be there at 4 pm for tea. It's serious business over there. You do not mess with anyone during Tea Time in Great Britain! It's simply not done!
I would also like to share something with the awesome wait staff out there with one tiny suggestion and thought: Please stop serving lemons with cream when you serve tea to your customers. If you only knew what a little lemon and milk do, you'd never serve them together. It's one or the other, and please ask your customer which one they would prefer with their tea: Milk, Cream OR Lemon--not all three! Lemon curdles milk/cream. It's simple chemistry. I really don't know any one who has used them together in their hot tea cups? Do you?
I would like to see a better selection of teas with enough sugar, milk/cream and utensils to deal with the tea bags and receptacles for said items associated with making a great cup of tea!
Mostly this is tongue in cheek, but there is some truth and seriousness to it. I just like to get it all out on the table, and add some humour along the way (note the British spelling).
Keep Calm and Drink Tea.
Peace Love and Steeeeeeeem!