Welcome back! My first two posts were on the tea culture in
Senegal and Morocco, but what about right here in the United States? While not
traditionally a huge tea-drinking country, tea consumption has been rising in
the United States as the health benefits of hot tea are becoming more
wide-known. Currently, 85% of the tea consumed in the United States (2015) is
iced, which is a bit unusual compared to many other countries around the world,
but hot tea sales have increased 15% over the last five years (2015). Even
though Americans drink tea, it is not as much a part of social life compared to
places like Senegal and Morocco. Practices such as offering tea to guests and
drinking tea with potential business partners are not a cultural norm here.
Even though I am a big tea drinker, most of my experiences
are not social experiences. I might make myself some herbal tea while I am
doing homework or to help me relax, but I usually do not make it for other
people too. The one exception is a tradition around Christmas-time that I have
with my mom, grandma, and sisters. Every year, we get all dressed up and go to
holiday tea at the Townsend Hotel. I am sure other hotels and restaurants in
the area offer something similar, but we always go to the Townsend Hotel
because it is our habit (Babin, 2016, p. 254). It is just five minutes from our
house, and one of the nicest hotels southeast Michigan. It can be exciting
because you might have a minor celebrity spotting while enjoying your tea. Whenever
a sports team is in Detroit for a game, they usually stay at the Townsend. This
past year, my sisters and I actually met a few Golden State Warriors players!
One of my favorite holiday traditions with my sisters, mom and grandma!
In addition to people-watching, the service is impeccable.
It is a bit pricey, but it is justified by the quality of service and food
served (Babin, 2016, p. 296). In addition to tea, scones, finger sandwiches,
and dessert are also served. We have strong normative expectations because we
have always had a positive experience and it is relatively similar year to year
(Babin, 2016,p. 295). This past year, the hotel hired a new chef so the menu
changed a bit. It was not quite what we were expecting because the menu had
been the same for the past five years, but it was delicious nonetheless. We
have never had anything other than a positive experience there. The staff knows
my mom and grandma since they have been coming there for years, even before us kids
were officially invited, so they always treat us very nicely and are sure to
give us the best table. The afternoon is always full of good company and delicious
food and tea, so we always leave with smiles on our faces. In terms of customer
satisfaction, I am not sure the Holiday Tea at the Townsend Hotel can do much
better. I am a very satisfied customer to say the least!
Those little sandwiches are actually pretty filling if you eat enough of them!
Even though the United States does not quite have the tea
culture of other countries, my family has found a way to work it into a part of
our holiday traditions. So before picking up that next cup of coffee, think
about getting some tea with your family or friends instead!
Works Cited
Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). CB 7 (7th ed.). Boston,
MA: Cengage Learning.
Tea Fact Sheet. (2015). Retrieved March 29, 2017, from
http://www.teausa.com/14655/tea-fact-sheet
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