Tea is a socio-culturally accepted, popular drink in many regions of the world, particularly some Asian countries including the Indian subcontinent.
Tea is used as a welcome drink, as a gesture of respect and welcome towards your guest. Tea is used as a soothing and calming drink in social occasions, at all times of the day and night in these cultures. For multiple reasons, Tea is an integral part of the socio-cultural scenario in these regions of the world. And it is very difficult for the people of this region to imagine their normal, daily life without Tea.
Why is it difficult? Many societies value Tea so highly that rejecting the cup of Tea offered by someone is considered a social insult. In some countries like China, Japan, etc. Tea ceremony is also a part of the religious and spiritual practice. Tea has such an important part in the psychological landscape of these countries over the centuries and over the generations that even to imagine the non-existence of Tea in these cultures, can be damaging to the collective psyche of the people. People associate a heavy significance to Tea in their religious, spiritual and social understanding of the world around them.
Social habit: In many other situations, the daily consumption of Tea has also become a social habit. So the absence of Tea can lead to a vacuum in the social fabric and in some cases even a mild withdrawal reaction, both social and psycho-emotional.
Special conditions: Of course, like with everything else in life, there are always some special circumstances where it is important to think about life without Tea. The normal Tea drink is prepared with milk and sugar. So in some medical conditions like Diabetes, it is important to avoid the daily, heavy consumption of Tea; or even to avoid it altogether. If you relocate to a region of the world, where Tea is not a part of the socio-cultural fabric, it is important to adjust to that particular cultural system.
Alternatives: Low calorie options or Green tea or Coffee are some alternatives to Tea.
Life without tea, is difficult to imagine in many parts of the world, but is a reality in some others.
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