It's the panacea of the former British Empire: a cup of tea. My grandmother drank many cups of tea as she smoked cigarettes; she would pour out a cup for me. Coffee is an upper. It isn't good for me, and I shouldn't drink as much of it as I do. But tea is a relaxant. Tea is a destressor. Tea makes everything better or at least bearable. In my youth I came across a friendly grown-up, a friend's mother and foster mother to us all, who was deeply distressed about something. "Oh dear," I said, not knowing what to do. "Would you like a cup of tea?" She started to laugh, but to this day I am not sure why.
Many people like cake with tea, but I think full-bodied cake goes better with coffee. Tea deserves something delicate, like cucumber sandwiches or thin cookies. Still better, though, is tea without any other distraction save music or good conversation.
