Single Guy’s Kitchen

Why does coffee get all the glory? Almost every city or town, big or small has a coffee shop of some sort. Why are there so few tea houses or tea shops in comparison? Ask for a cup of tea in a coffee shop and you are treated like a second class citizen, if you’re lucky.

Coffee made its way to Europe through the Italy from the Italian’s trade with Northern Africa and the Middle East. Tea has its origins further East and was most widely adopted by the British. Tea was more or less the national drink of the British by the mid 18th century. By this same token, tea was quite popular in British colonies, including America.

Coffee initially was not received well by the colonists when it was brought to America, most still preferred tea. It was not until the Revolutionary War when tea became difficult to import and later in the War of 1812 in which the British cut off all tea exports to the U.S. that coffee was able to take its place in American culture. After the civil war, coffee was solidified as the winner and tea consumption has since been relegated to primarily iced tea.

I love iced tea (see Sweet Tea) and so do a lot of other Americans. So why not give hot tea a chance too? Sure it does not have quite the caffeine hit that coffee does but so what? Tea comes in seemingly endless varieties and is better for the body as a whole than coffee. I know it’s certainly easier on the stomach. I enjoy a good cup of a coffee every now and then, but tea is definitely my go to early morning, after supper, anytime hot beverage.

If you’re a coffee person, try tea instead for a week. I think you’ll enjoy it. I like Twinings in classic varieties such as Earl Grey or English Breakfast.