Rome, it could be argued, was done in by its fondness for wine stored in lead-lined casks. The British Empire rose and fell with the fortunes of tea. As a recent issue of Utne Reader pointed out, the rise in consumption of coffee is strongly associated with the rise of capitalism. Together, alcohol and coffee grease the wheels of commerce which seem determined to increase speed, efficiency and productivity at all costs.
Tea speaks of another way of life.
In Chinese,Japanese and British variations, tea requires elaborate preparation. The water must be brought to a full boil. The pot must be warmed. There is nothing instant about tea culture. In England, for example, many cabbies carry their tea-pot with them and STOP several times a day to enjoy a cup of tea.