Don’t Get Between A Man and His Tea
If you know me, you’ll know I’m a tea man. It’s part of being a Southerner, and as Allison Glock wrote in her article a while back, this beverage is all part of Southern culture. As she writes, “Sweet tea isn’t a drink. It’s culture in a glass. Like Guinness in Ireland. Or ouzo in Greece.”
I have my take on sweet tea and why we do things differently from our British cousins after we split up. When we created this little thing called a democracy, we became rebels. We drive on the “right” side of the road, and we drink our tea on ice, just to name a few. Although we didn’t leave all the comforts of our colonial past behind, we just made them uniquely American.
I break beverages up into three good reasons – effect, taste, and cultural identity.
The Buzz Effect
Everyone can identify with grabbing a “cup of Joe” to start your morning. We don’t do that because we love the taste of coffee! We are looking for a little extra pep in our step to get the morning going. Caffeine can be an energy booster for some people, but I drink tea not only because I like the taste and it gives me energy! Besides, it contains far less caffeine than black coffee.
A Question of Taste
Many folks drink Coke or Diet Coke to get this effect. The bubbles are too much for me. One is enough, and two is too much. However, a nice glass of tea can be enjoyed and refilled throughout the day. It’s smooth as silk and is not overpowering, and even when it’s a little watered down – it’s just as good!
As a child, I grew up drinking sweet tea, but that’s not sustainable as an adult. However, many would not agree with me! Allison writes, “The amount of sugar is up to the maker, but generally runs somewhere between cotton candy sweet and enough to liquefy your teeth.” All I can say is thank goodness for sweeteners. I now can enjoy lightly sweetened iced tea to get the effect and a smooth-tasting beverage. And you can’t convince me otherwise. Coffee is bitter, Coke is bubbly, whereas tea is effective and is elegantly smooth.
Part of My Culture
I never thought about this before folks began asking about it. Southerners have been drinking sweet tea (and now unsweet tea) since we came to America. It has become part of our identity, just like the English who drink hot tea with milk. We find comfort, hospitality, warmth, and love in every glass. That is now becoming “marketable,” and everyone is capitalizing on its magic and allure. Milo’s Tea Company (Milo’s) is bringing this “Southern Goodness” to everyone, like when Coke introduced a Southern concoction to the world. We were cool then, and I think we are on the road to being cool once more with our tea going global. Who knows, maybe we will have the world eating boiled peanuts instead of roasted peanuts! Well, that’s pushing it too far – but trust me, Southern tea is a wonderful way to get a good old-fashioned dose of Southern hospitality all in one ice-cold glass.
Disclaimer: Please note that regular consumption of tea or coffee can lead to caffeine dependence.
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