According to my west coast brother, who knows such things, today is "International Tea Day." While I seem to be drinking more coffee than tea these days, because my wonder spouse makes really good coffee (his own special half-caf blend) I do enjoy a good cup of brewed tea. When I have traveled in the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand, I have always been able to get excellent brewed tea at every meal and, usually, in the evenings in the lobbies of hotels where I've stayed.
Here, in the US (at least the mid-west US where I live) if I ask for hot tea with breakfast at a restaurant I am most likely to get a cup or, if I'm really lucky, a little tea pot of hot water and one tea bag. This is not at all the same thing as good hot tea brewed in large urns and poured out generously or brought to the table ready to drink in large tea pots. No tags hanging anywhere. My all time favorite place for tea was the Duke Hotel in London where they serve you excellent tea and biscuits if your room isn't quite ready when you arrive, even if you know you're early and aren't expecting anything more than a place to leave your luggage until check in time. Believe me their rooms are worth the wait. This isn't a commercial for the Duke, but if you're heading for London, check them out.
I guess this is why we are celebrating "International Tea Day" and not "USA Tea Day." I might need to have tea this evening in honor of the day, even if it is (gasp) from a tea bag.
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