Truth be told, we Americans love tea. Tracing the roots of America's tea culture, inevitably leads to the Boston Tea Party. At various times throughout American tea history consumption shifted from green to black tea due to the evolution of processing methods, variations in quality, significant marketing campaigns, and wartime embargoes. Tea culture in America has evolved considerably since the colonial and wartime eras and now embraces a wide spectrum of cultural traditions, including those of Taiwan and China.
How do the characteristics of American culture interface with traditional tea? Generally, Americans enjoy variety, novelty, and engaging in new and interesting experiences. This engagement of diversity, which is an element of the American spirit, creates a window though which we can enjoy traditional tea culture. Ultimately tea traditions from various cultures are integrated and co-exist to create America’s unique tea culture.
In the United States, the popular press frequently disseminates the results of scientific studies, particularly those related to health. Medical studies touting tea’s health properties for various conditions including eczema, hypertension, cancer, and depression/anxiety have motivated some Americans to seek out tea. The reputed high levels of antioxidants and lower levels of caffeine (compared to coffee) also attract new tea drinkers.