“Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.”

He commanded the computer, and the replicator produces a hot cup of the worse smelling and tasting tea in the world

You might not agree with me, and that’s fine, but let me explain my problem.
I don’t drink coffee, with a family from Ireland I learned to drink tea. Yes, we may be the only teetotaling family from Ireland you’ll ever meet. Do not stereotype us Irish as drunks.
Now back to Picard and his addiction to AI generated nasty Earl Grey.
To me, Earl Grey smells like citronella candles. You know, those candles you light as a mosquito repellant, and I don’t want to be thinking of nasty little bugs ready to bite me, and give me West Nile virus or Zika, while I enjoy my cut of tea. The taste isn’t much better.
So, what am I blaming Picard on?
I drink a simple black tea, while in Ireland and Britain I was probably drinking PG Tips, Twining’s, or Tetley’s. I wasn’t really paying much attention as a kid, though I remember the PG box.
Here in America, I grew up on Lipton’s (Apparently Orange Pekoe doesn’t have orange in it, and is a term for an unflavored black tea from India), later I’d find Tetley’s here as well, but I was just as happy with a generic store brand.
The Picard Problem came when I order tea at local restaurants here in Southern California. For years, they always brought the hot water with a tea bag that was Lipton’s or some generic version of the same. But that has changed over the last few years.
If you were at a fancy restaurant and asked for a cup of tea, they might bring out a box of nine or twelve selections to choose from, but there was always a simple black.
Now even some basic restaurants have that box, but often they don’t have a black tea that I’m use to drinking. Over the years I have come to select what is called English Breakfast. It’s close enough to what I want. There is also an Irish Breakfast, a stronger flavor, and a Scottish Breakfast which is even stronger and darker (I wonder if there is a Welsh Breakfast), I don’t see them often.
Starbucks used to have a tea called AWAKE, but after they bought out Teavana they switched to their brand of English Breakfast. So that’s what I order if I’m ever at Starbucks, I prefer Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
So, at restaurants I’ve come to expect to be served English Breakfast.
Most restaurant today as I’ve said have a selection of herbal teas; Chai Spiced Apple, Chamomile, Peppermint, Orange & Cinnamon, Lemon Delight, and it goes on, and of course Earl Grey (there is also a Lady Grey).
Recently I’ve come across a problem. I’ve gone in to several restaurants and when I’ve asked for a “black tea”, they bring me Earl Grey.
Nope.
Sometimes, they’ll go back and find an English Breakfast for me, but it’s getting harder and harder. They might bring an herbal if I reject the Earl Grey, but recently all they’ve had is the Earl Grey.
I am so very surprised that less and less restaurant have a basic black tea. I’ve resulted to bringing my own tea bags.
I do drink Green Tea on special occasions, or when I eat Japanese food.
But I blame Captain Picard for all the Earl Grey in the world.

If this blog hasn’t made it clear, I like Tea far more than Coffee. So, I find it hard to ask you to Buy Me A Cup of Ko-fi.
I also find it hard to ask for donations, but as I’m unemployed I’m needing to find ways to afford things, such as this website. If you have liked what I’ve posted in my blog I’d appreciate a note in the comment section, and maybe consider leaving a tip.

Thank you all for the support.

Kevin