One reason could be the poor quality of tea the average consumer encounters in this country and the poor way tea drinkers are treated. American tea companies have set out to give tea drinkers in this country the special treatment that coffee drinkers have long enjoyed. The result is fresher and better tea, suitable for upscale markets, and an expanded range of teas that includes herb varieties, fruit-scented iced tea blends, and even organically grown teas that can add excitement to the traditional tea time. In a wholesale tea market that has become extremely competitive, tea suppliers stand ready and willing to help clubs get started serving the world's most popular beverage to trend-setting guests. Aging baby boomers are looking for taste alternatives to colas and coffees, and tea is better health-wise than either of those.
Tea has about half the caffeine of coffee.
It also contains polyphenols that stimulate white blood cells, which help boost immunity to disease and inhibit absorption of cholesterol. Tea is also known to aid in digestion and is even rich in fluoride, a natural tooth decay fighter. A number of recent studies have shown that drinking the most ancient of teas, green tea, can help prevent lung cancer. When Republic of Tea was founded five years ago, there were three other tea companies that were trademarked in the U.S in the same year. Last year there were over 400.