Coffee is not my Cup of Tea

A cup of tea makes everything better; its always a good idea. I will admit that I am not like the average American because I do not drink coffee. Was there once a time when I did? Yes, but it was merely 1 cup or 1/2 a cup per a morning work day. On average, 50% of the population, equivalent to 150 million Americans, drink espresso, cappuccino, latte, or iced/cold coffees.

Coffee is one of those pleasant addictions, but one must ask how pleasant can it be with the health impact that goes along with it. I mean lets be honest. Coffee is also known as Caffeine in a cup. Caffeine increases alertness, but it also can cause insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, increased heart and breathing rate, and other side effects. Consuming large amounts of coffee might also cause headache, anxiety, agitation, ringing in the ears, and irregular heartbeats. Do not get me wrong there are also benefits of coffee that WebMD highlights as well. Long story short, Coffee is just not my Cup of Tea.

I have always enjoyed tea time. I like big cups and I can not lie! Tea also contains levels of caffeine, but there are tons of caffeine-free tea like Calm Camomile to choose from. The difference is that there is significantly less caffeine in the average cup of tea compared to the avergae cup of coffee. Adiago teas has a great site that gives lessons on tea and one of which discusses The Truth About Caffeine. Its a pretty interesting read that I highly recommend. This post is not necessarily about bashing caffeine, but merely my argument as to why Coffee is not my Cup of Tea.

In the past 5 years, my lifestyle is no longer fast-paced. I frown upon energy drinks and other stimulants. Including meditation and yoga into my daily routine has fostered a more relaxed environment for me. There are several holitics healing practices and medicines from around the world that include tea time as a ritual. I love having an early morning tea. I am also of mother of 2 beautiful daughters who love a tea party! This all asserts the fact that Coffee is not my Cup of Tea.

Tea is so simple. All you need is a cup, hot water, and a tea bag! There is no need for sugar packs and creamers. I love adding local honey or even lemon and mint to my tea as well. Sometimes I just enjoy the tea itself. When I am out and about, working remotely, or spending some QT with my mother we often stop for a great cup of tea (you were thinking cup of Joe!).

Here are my Top 5 shops to go to for tea in the RVA and Petersburg area. These places also serve coffee and some are known just for their coffee. So see this post can also be helpful to you coffee lovers too (Fair Fighting Rules).

The great thing about each of these shops is that they have great food! Check out photos below where I’ve captured my tea time!

“Writing is a job, a talent, but it’s also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.”
― Ann Patchett, Truth and Beauty