College requires coffee; for the all nighters writing papers, the morning-after pick-me-up, the iced latte to get you through those three hour lectures. And more than just the caffeine, it’s also the taste: the warm roast sitting in your hands as you sip it, focusing you and relaxing you at the same time. I am rarely without a coffee in hand when walking through the streets of Boston to and from class. So when I came to London, I figured that this habit would continue, right? Wrong.
The switch from coffee to tea came abruptly, unannounced, and forcefully. I have always enjoyed tea, and have it very often at home. But it is not the same as a cup of coffee in the morning. So when I ordered my first cup of coffee in London, and cringed my face after taking the first sip, I knew it was going to be a rough battle. British culture doesn’t value a good roast of coffee – the espresso is good (incredible in Italy, as expected), but a regular cup of coffee is just not cared for in the same wayÂ
as in the U.S. Tea, on the other hand, cannot be ruined, and therefore is always perfect, not to mention classically British.
Fortunately, this switch has not been too scarring, and I have learned to love tea, my favorite being Earl Grey. There are many different flavors, it has virtually no calories, and it usually accompanied by a small afternoon meal. Besides all of these features, it also is simply a part of the culture. Yes, there are Starbucks cafés up and down every street just as there are in America – but the chain does not do justice to the cute café on the corner with 32 tea varieties. The habit of “high tea” is a classy late afternoon ritual that many fancy Englishmen and women frequently indulge in; it includes a teapot, for two or more, and various little things to nibble on, like small sandwiches, crackers, and other snacks. What’s not to love?
So in immersing myself into British culture, tea has become part of my daily ritual. Grab a tea before class. Enjoy a pot with some girlfriends after lunch. Try out a new flavor from the classy corner café. Make tea before bed. And repeat.
It seems insignificant, but this was one of my largest adjustments for the semester. I didn’t want to think coffee was something I was reliant on, so I have proved to myself that I don’t actually need it to get through a day. I will not pretend that I plan on returning home and replacing tea with coffee – on the contrary, I will most likely grab a Venti Hazelnut Coffee in the JFK Starbucks after I land in New York. But, I will be able to walk away from London with a true appreciation for tea, not just with a cheesy tourist teapot from a corner store, which also will be selling key chains for astronomical prices.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.