Tea, or Coffee, or What Beverage Works
What is it about the Tea or Coffee that some say nourishes our body and soul, that has been a grand love affair, or just makes our day so much better? I just wonder what drives our passion for a beverage, except just a common add vulgar addiction.
I love coffee and have since I can remember. I loved the smell long before I was allowed to drink it or had the opportunity. For me it was a rite of passage and an adult beverage, but it was also the AMERICAN thing to do. Yes, really. I knew since I could remember that we AMERICANS dumped that tea and it stayed dumped by my people. Propaganda gets woven into the tapestry of our existence. I wonder what deep nationalistic spirit is woven into other beverage choices.
A lot of southern people here drink SWEET TEA. Can that be a statement of rebellion after the Civil War? In my town, I never knew anyone to touch tea of any kind. I do believe tea is healthier than coffee, and I drink green tea or tea with Chinese food. I drink tea when my tummy is queasy, and I wish I preferred tea, but I am just a coffee junkie and whatever drives me to coffee, is hard to shake.
I was very grateful for my morning coffee and rolls arriving at my door when I was in London, so we Brits and Americans are in good shape now. I also got coffee in all of the 13 countries I visited in western Europe, but I also traveled with my coffee pot, since I start my day at about 4 a,m, and my day starts with coffee. I had a Brittish lady visit me and I bought all sorts of tea, and I was amazed that she loved a raspberry flavored tea. I do hope that our prejudices get accommodated as easily as my British guest and I did with our tea and coffee.
I am adding this paragraph since some discussion. I did some research and Americans drink about 3 times as much coffee as tea and Brits do the opposite, but the rest of Europe drink a lot more coffee than tea. I was surprised to learn that some northern European countries drink a whole lot more Coffee than the USA. As addictions go, coffee costs less than alcohol or nicotine and won’t destroy you life or land you in jail, but is still damaging to your physical health, and I really don’t know the real benefit to your emotional health. Probably, like most addictions, it is an upper then a downer and it does aggravate our nerves. I do firmly believe that I would be better off drinking no coffee. I don’t have experience with tea and I do believe that it is safer than coffee. Addictions don’t allow sensible choices.
I know this is the Holiday season, but it is also time to think about our traditions, and if they are worth keeping. I know that our favorite beverages, coffee, tea, cocoa and alcohol, are addictive, but they are also psychologically addictive and they wrap us in a cocoon of well-being for a short while. I think that is a lot of what I cannot give up. How about you and what makes your day or night a whole lot more fun, or just nourishes your body and soul?
I apologize for being long winded here, and I could go on in rapture still, but I will exit this now.
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Senior Chatters
Hi Rose, I neither drink Coffee or Tea, never have, I don’t know why because the rest of my siblings do and always have, maybe I refused it as a child, the only hot drink I have ever drunk from as far back as I can remember is Cocoa, don’t take sugar with it and very little skimmed milk, just one drink in the morning, apparently it contains more Caffeine than coffee, so despite a popular belief it’s not a bedtime drink, I know it’s full of Antioxidants and this could account for me never ever getting colds and viruses, even when all around me are sniffling and coughing………but I do love the smell of fresh coffee………
Starlette. I see that you love the smell of coffee and so do I. Most people do. I think your sensible living in many ways probably accounts for your good health.
I prefer black tea (with milk) Rose,but have a coffee perhaps once a day when Im busy…its easier to make.My experience in America was that about 50% drank tea,the rest , coffee.
This surprised me somewhat as the the act of bringing a cup, a teabag and a rapidly cooling jug of hot water to the table is probably the worst way of preparing a cuppa….Still….When in Rome ! 🙂
Capp, I doubted if your perception so I googled the coffee versus tea consumption. Americans drink 85% coffee and the tea that is drunk is mostly iced tea. People may have been deferring to your British preference for tea which was very nice of them or they may drink more tea where you were. Coffee shops are dotting our landscape and the coffee pot is at the ready in all our restaurants. If you want tea, you will get a tea bag and a pot of somewhat hot water. In the south, you can get endless amounts of iced tea and mostly sweet tea but they do have an unsweet version.
I do love chai, in the Indian restaurants and I do like chinese tea made from leaves in chinese restaurants, but tea does not have the caffeine jolt or robust flavor of coffee, so I never drink it first thing in the morning right after my eyelids flutter.
You are probably correct Rose….Possibly the circles I moved in,or,my perception was in error,at the time..I did find the coffee I drank there ,certainly was more robust in flavour than Im used to…The “Kona” coffee I had in Hawaii made my head spin. lol.
Hi Rose,my addictions are several coffees and nicotene within minutes of getting out of bed,I don`t know how else to start a new day as silly as it sounds.Its a ritual and habit I`d feel lost without,but I love it .
Sylvester, I have never smoked, but I can imagine the bliss of caffeine and nicotine. I tried cigs and they just made me cough so I never had but a few puffs at a time. I do hope marijuana becomes legal. I would love to try that and I know it would be good medicine for the aches and pain when I over exert. So, for now I have my one addiction and no double bliss.
I havnt smoked for a number of years Sylvester,but there isnt a day goes past when I would be happy to light up once or twice……..I dont,..Its easy enough to resist now,but it leads me to believe that our addictions never really and truely leave us.
I never could tolerate milk when I was a child; so, I was allowed to have a cup of coffee every morning since I was 5 years old as did my sister. I still have one cup every morning. It didn’t stunt my growth as was the fear back then. I’m 5’7″, but maybe I could have been 6 foot! LOL
When I came home from school at 3 pm, I had hot tea and a cookie every day and I still have that every day, too. Old habits are hard to break with me.
Yes, I love the smell of coffee.
I sometimes have tea in the afternoon, but you seem to be well regulated and have fun with your beverages and that is good.
Tea for me every time. Except maybe if we go out for a meal, and coffee seems appropriate. Probably 20 cups a day.
Geeljay, good to hear from you. 20 cups a day, do you use tea bags or what? Seems like you would be kept pretty busy brewing 20 cups a day. You must love your tea. I may try a few cups myself.
I like coffee best when I get in my vehicle. Maybe because I can’t readily have it, like at home or at work.
My preference is MacDonald’s restaurant coffee, Tim Horton coffee and Irving convenience store coffee. Luckily they are common enough when travelling. Sometimes I risk it in some restaurants, sometimes I regret it.
And I like somewhat mild coffee, since I only put skim milk in it. I remember when I used to smoke, I’d drink some awful brews with a haze on top of the coffee and black as coal. Good to have the taste buds back.
Tea versus Coffee, i have one cup of coffe each day mostly herbal teas such as green tea with honey ,or peppermint or Ginger if unwell,all tisanes really and not classified officially as teas…but i love to get the beautiful teapot out ,( i have a lovely floral collection) and make what my mom would have said is a proper pot of tea , warm the pot a teaspoon for each and one for the pot … strained and lemon added if no cream ,milk or sugar taken…. that’s it really .
Lani, I do coffee, but I also do tea especially green tea and I have a teapot but I also have pretty mugs for my coffee. It makes a difference, and only china cups are safe to microwave. The lead can be leached out in ceramic cups or cups that are not fired at high temperatures. Just don’t give me tea first thing in the morning, but it would be better than nothing.