Monday May 11, 2009 | 3 comments
Why did the people who were protesting excessive spending with tax-day “tea parties” pick tea as their symbol? Clearly, it was an effort to hearken back to the Boston Tea Party, a protest by colonists against taxation without representation. But were there other reasons? Is tea such a luxurious commodity that they thought it represented conspicuous consumption? Is it out of reach for the general public? Or, as Jon Stewart said on The Daily Show, “To protest wasteful spending, you bought a million tea bags? You protesting taxes or irony?” No doubt the tea industry is happy to have advocates of all political persuasions, as long as one group jumping on the tea bandwagon doesn’t drive another group off.
Recently, tea was used as the vehicle to poison someone on the TV show “Bones” – and was referred to as “the perfect medium to deliver the poison”! I thought that was kind of a sideways slam – is the perception that tea is so bitter that you wouldn’t be able to taste the poison? Is that what they were implying? I can see it now – someone refuses a cup of tea because they think they wouldn’t be able to tell if it had been tainted! Of course, such a person likely has bigger problems.
In any case, tea has been taking a few body blows in the popular media lately. Even though people say, “Any publicity is good publicity”, I’m not sure these latest developments will help promote tea. As much as all the news about the health benefits of tea has raised its profile, I think that many more hits like these might have folks once again thinking of tea as something your mother gives you when you’re sick, inste
ad of as a wonderful beverage with more flavors than Baskin-Robbins and Ben & Jerry’s ice creams combined.
So I say “Stand up for tea”! Drink it in public! Tell people about it – why you’re drinking it, what it tastes like, and what your favorite is! Be enthusiastic, and spread your passion for tea. I’ve had people tell me that they don’t like tea, but after I finish rhapsodizing about my favorites, they’re open to giving it a second chance. Spread the joyful word that tea is a beverage of the gods!
Images:: Main & 3rd: ~MVI~ :: First: bisongirl :: 2nd: Anne Wolfe
I too had some concerns about the recent political use of the tea bag. You actually beat me to writing a post about it. I’m ready to “stand up for tea”. I don’t really think that any damage has been done but I encourage every dedicated tea drinker to follow your advice and rhapsodize about the healthiest beverage on the planet.
I am in as well. let’s stand up for tea and make it a counter protest.
Yes!! We are finally beginning, as an industry, to break the perception of tea as a remedy, or
a Red Hat party drink, or something monks only consume, etc. We do things with fine loose leaf tea that people cannot believe..and why not? It’s more versatile than coffee and espresso and
better for you. It was awful to Google tea and suddenly see a certain political persuasion using
tea as their medium with absolutely nothing positive in the message.
I’m in too!