Growing up in this part of the world, I was under the impression that coffee was more of a tool to help with late-night work or study sessions. It wasn't considered a drink for everyday consumption, like having it in the morning or afternoon, but only for staying awake at night, especially for students studying or anyone working on important tasks.
Again, coffee was also seen as more of a professional or work-related drink back then. In big organizations or corporate offices, especially where they had expatriates working, coffee would always be served. It was later in life that I got to know that coffee could actually be taken at any time of the day.
Tea, on the other hand was, and is still a staple in many homes here in my region, with popular brands like Lipton or Top Tea, being consumed everyday, especially in the mornings as breakfast. And then there's the cocoa or chocolate malted beverages like Ovaltine, Milo, Bournvita, which we also refer to as "tea." Funny, right? 馃槀
There's also organic teas which have started to gain popularity, offering alternatives to Lipton and Top Tea. These organic teas come in various flavors like ginger, ginseng, and herbal blends etc., appealing to people looking for healthier options.
In answering the question 2 in this week's prompt: "Coffee or tea? Tell which one you prefer and how you like your coffee or tea drink prepared," I'll say my preference lies more with tea, although I do take coffee, occasionally. Anything tea, whether the traditional tea like lipton, herbal tea, or simply ginger infused in hot water, I'm game.
And I enjoy my tea more when it's served black, no cream or sugar. Occasionally, I can add either honey or sugar, but when there's none of these, I just take it all black.
I've stuck with tea because of its mild taste profile as against coffee which has stronger and more bitter taste profile.
Preparing my tea is just simple: drop the tea bag in the cup first, then pour in hot water, and allow it to simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Then, I'll remove the teabag, and my tea is ready! Sometimes, I let it get cold, before drinking, depending on my mood.
However, growing up, I only took tea creamy and tasty teas. Call it sweet tooth. 馃槄 I couldn't imagine myself taking black tea like I often see people do in TV's. Like, I couldn't imagine what joy they'd derive in taking tea without sugar, cream or milk. If it's not creamy and damn tasty, forget it. Lol.
But, as I grew older, I learned about the health benefits of consuming black tea - it's rich in antioxidants and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, among other things. Also, sugar or cream aren't exactly the healthiest additions.
So, armed with this knowledge, I developed a taste for black tea, and I'm so enjoying it.
Thank you for reading.
Author's Photos
