To ask what is the deal with tea

[tingalayo]

I'm a British person who has never had a cup of tea in my life or even tasted it. Not sure why, it's just never occurred to me.
It's something I've been wondering about before but I really want to ask now because I'm moving house and I've just read advice to pack the kettle and mugs LAST because that's the most urgent thing you'll need when you get to your new house and the most urgent thing the removals people will need.
Why do most British people need to drink tea so often? It's seems to be an actual need rather than just something nice. I do love peppermint tea and I've worked in offices before where people knew this and offered me a cup every time they made a round of tea and I was like...no? I like mint tea but I don't want several cups a day. My husband and his family drink tea every couple of hours if they can and seem to get grumpy if they don't have it.
It seems like an addiction to me. Is it caffeine? Or something else I don't understand that someone can explain to me?

I grew up drinking tea but coffee had taken over for me now and can't remember the last time I had a proper cup of tea, although occasionally will have green tea when out!

It doesn't taste nice and leaves a horrible milky taste in your mouth.

Depends on which milk & how much. My tea could hold its own in a fight it's that strong.

Blimey, it’s only tea!

I don’t drink coffee but I don’t judge the billions of people that do 😳😂

I never drank it as a child. I got into it precisely because it is the standard drink offered in any situation. The more you drink it, the more you learn about how you like it and you refine your method of making it. I suppose the basic answer is we need to drink throughout the day and tea is the convenient drink of choice. It is exceptionally comforting when you are unwell, stressed or upset. I can well understand how it got us through the Blitz. I pretty much only drink tea or water these days, sometimes squash. More water than tea in hot weather. More tea than water in cold weather.

I've never tried tea either, my family drank it but I always thought it smelled bad- as the smell was always on peoples breath and I don't like milk anyway.
People at work used to ask me three times a day if I wanted tea, even though I had politely said no for four years. Eventually it just merged to them asking everyone else and then pointing at me to declare "and you don't drink tea" three times a day for the next few years. It is fun how much of a ritual it is for some people

Probably because it comforts people. I love tea, it quenches my thirst (weirdly), I like the taste, warms me on a cold day. Now I’m not a fan of fizzy drinks but don’t judge those that guzzle them morning, noon and night.
Each to their own.
Plus, it’s really quite unusual to get to adulthood in this country and to have 100% never had a cup of tea OR even tried a sip.

I like tea so that's my drink of choice
Neighbours only drink fizzy drinks
Dh likes water and will drink that when I have tea

I dislike peppermint tea , I'd rather drink hot water

We are all different but lots of people like a cup of tea

there is a cultural aspect also - let's all calm down with a nice cup of tea - it's fits any disaster - throw in a biscuit if sugar is called for - it's a way of saying everything will be ok

much less caffeine than coffee which makes it more suitable for a stressful situation and warming- body temperature which is comforting -

I find it very soothing and calming to drink. I don't take milk or sugar though. I didn't really like tea until I realised that the milk and sugar were the issue. I love a cup of tea any time of the day.

@Krakinou And it’s a cultural signal for “you are welcome here and your presence is important”.

This is a very good point. When DS was a baby I used to go to a lovely sure start centre that wasn’t institutionalised at all - it was in a run down old building and was basically like a huge living room with beaten up old sofas all round the edges. Twice a week they ran a morning session for people with babies under 9 months where you just came in, stuck your baby on a mat on the floor with all the other babies, slumped in the sofa and the women who worked there would bring you a cup of tea or coffee. There was no pressure or expectation to do ANYTHING. It was perfectly fine to leave the babies entertaining themselves at your feet (which of course they were completely happy to do) or just sit with them on your lap while you had a sit down, a nice drink and a natter. Bliss. So welcoming and friendly.

Never occurred to you to to try a drink you've not had?!

Thanks OP I've really enjoyed reading this thread. I can't remember the first time I tasted tea, but I used to drink it very milky with masses of sugar. Now drink it black with one, gently rounded, teaspoon of sugar. I was thinking if I'd never drunk tea and was given a cup, would I even like it? I honestly don't know. My kids don't drink it. I can drink coffee but I'm not a fan of instant and brewing coffee is much more of a faff than making a proper brew or even a teabag in a mug.

I'd love it if you'd try a cup and give your opinion.

Hah, you don't fool me. I know you're a spy from Putin.

I have a granddaughter who has never had a hot drink and only drinks water. One of my nieces is exactly the same, I don't understand how you can't have a lovely hot cup of tea.

I was brought up only to drink water as that is all my mother drank. I love a cup of tea now. She used to say she did not understand why I did not just drink water.

I'm a tea addict from a family of tea addicts. My DB is the same. We grew up in an era where giving children tea wasn't frowned upon and we were both allowed it from an early age. I can remember DB being given tea in a bottle when he was still too young to manage a mug.

I drink 8-10 mugs of tea a day. They're big mugs and I drink my tea very strong. I can't function properly in the morning until I'm halfway through my second mug. I often wake up in the night and come down and make a cup of tea. If I'm working out of the house, I make a cup of tea as soon as I get to the office, which is a full 5-minute drive away. If my day starts with an appointment further afield, I take a travel mug of tea in the car with me.

If tea was banned, I'd have to buy it on the black market, or move to a country where it was still allowed. I drink 3-4 mugs of coffee a week as well. I make it very strong, with freshly ground beans, in an old-style espresso pot.

I think I might be addicted to caffeine.

I think all countries and cultures have a national drink don't they?

I only drink tea occasionally, I find it warming and comforting.

This is a very odd thread. Why wouldn't you just try it instead of asking random strangers? To me, tea is comforting, relaxing and hydrating.

Do you drink coffee, OP?

I drink a lot of tea. I like the taste; don't like cold drinks much (except alcohol!); find it comforting and am probably mildly addicted to caffeine.

I come from a family of Methodists who didn't drink alcohol at all in the case of GPs and wonder if that's a factor?

I think the ritual is v important. Making and drinking a cup of tea gives you something to do at times of crisis. You have to wait for it to cool to which gives you a time in which to chat. Also, to use a really cheesy phrase, I think it's part of lots of people's "love language " - making a brew is short hand for saying I want to just take care of you a bit or make you welcome or whatever.

One of the greatest complements in my circle of friends and family is when you feel comfortable enough in someone else's home to offer to put the kettle on and make the tea

I am with the OP. Never got into drinking tea or coffee. I like some herbal teas but don't feel the NEED to drink them. I like black tea with lemon and sugar and no milk, but again, no NEED to drink it. I drink water, diet coke, or squash. (Used to love OJ but too many calories)

My husband and my kids all love tea or coffee.

Since I had covid coffee smells like toxic waste so just as well I never got into it.

How did you grow up in this country and never had tea? You cannot be from up North.

If you dropped hot Ribena you must have ended up with a scalded lap - no wonder it made you anxious about hot drinks!
But.... it seems strange that you went for a hot drink with no milk - mint tea?

You're not missing anything. I've tried it and didn't like it. Don't get the fascination. 🤷‍♀️

I'm a tea addict, been drinking it since I was a wee kid. We drank it by the bucketful at home and I drink about 8 cups of tea a day now. Mostly decaff. Also like herbal, chai etc. Rarely drink coffee.

But it's a ritual as well isn't it?