Hot tea is pretty big over here. You would be surprised how many people over here do not like coffee. There are a few, random tea houses here and there that are nice to visit. Perhaps the Americans are turning into the British? Hmmmmm. Here is a link to a nice story. It comes from a very respectable news source too: http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7142123 http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7142123

The reason Americans drink coffee instead of tea, like most of the rest of the world, is the Boston Tea Party. We switched over to avoid taxes we hadn't voted on as a matter of principle, even though coffee usually costs about five times as much. Well, people don't just drink tea to save money; they drink it because they like the taste and its mildly refreshing nature. So an old tradition is being replaced by another practice. God created tea because He loves the Oriental. It was the only way to ensure that, before parasite life cycles were understood, people who worked in standing water would be sure to boil that water before drinking it. When the British brought Chinese workers to dig trenches in World War I, the Chinese refused to drink cold water, which, they said, they had never tasted in their lives. They insisted either on tea or at least on hot water.

I do and most the people I hang out with do.

My Dad always drank iced tea, and my Mom always drank hot tea. I confess that I take after my Dad. I prefer my tea (and my coffee) iced. My wife drinks her tea (and coffee) hot, so I guess we are ready to replace my parents!

I was raised in a rual Texas farm and ranch community and I had never heard of hot tea until I joined the Navy out of high school. I was just out of boot camp and on my way home for my leave I stopped at a cafe, and the waitress asked what I wanted to drink, I said tea. Well, she brings me a little coffee cup with hot stuff in it and I thought it was just weak coffee. I took a drink and thought,,What the hell is this?,,I asked what it was and she said well, you asked for tea. I said, well, maam, at home we put ice in it.... She laughed at me I guess she thought I was the dumbest Johnny Hayseed she had ever seen. I guess I probably was. I still like it sweet and iced.

I enjoy hot tea all the time. I like it especially while I am experiencing cramping. The warmth sooths the pain--a little. As for iced tea, I enjoy that too...not all the time though.

Yes. I enjoy a good cup of tea every now and then, but it can be hard to find it at affordable prices here.

I used to have a huge steaming mug of tea with breakfast every day (usually Irish Breakfast Tea). I gave up caffeine and fell out of the habit. I haven't really found any herbal teas I like. I find it interesting that you seem to think Americans only drink iced tea. Is that a common perception in the U.K.? I think tea is less of a cultural standard here. I would imagine that temperature has something to do with preference, though. Iced tea seems to be more popular in the south (sweet tea is a speciality down there. It is essentially sweetened iced tea). In the north, iced tea tends to be a summer thing with hot beverages preferred in the winter.

I drink hot tea very rarely, but drink iced tea every day of my life, then again I am from Texas.

I drink hot tea all the time but the problem is u have to put more sugar in it to make it drinkable

Your travel guide for Europeans is quite correct. Most restaurants in America do assume you're ordering ice tea, unless you specify. Meanwhile, a lot of Americans (like me) are enjoying more and more teas at home, and in nice coffee shops. (My faves are oolong, white peony, and hojicha! mmm!) When you ask for a hot tea in your basic American restaurant, (Denny's, IHOP, Waffle House) it seems to me they have to go in the back closet and dig up their barely-used tea pot or tea cups, which they are kind enough to dust off for you. Often, I find you get a brand of tea-bag that is unheard of (i.e. the cheapest), although some places do bother to stock a few flavored teas (also the cheapest). But I have to wonder how old those tea bags are, since it clear you're getting the "just-in-case" tea. I've taken to carrying a little plastic bag of my favorite tea flavors around with me wherever I go, and just ordering hot water when I get there. Ordering hot water never rasies an eyebrow. BTW, the hot tea in Asian restaurants is excellent (by my American taste, Asains may tell you different), but of course, you still have to specify hot, as they're so used to dealing with most Americans who order it iced.

well....i enjoy hot sweet tea...freesh and all....

I drink hot tea exclusively, and always with milk.

My mom used to make us hot tea with honey and milk and called it Cambric tea. I remember liking it very much because it made me feel so grownup, although it was at least half milk! :) I'm not a tea drinker and cannot remember the last time I drank any tea as an adult! :)

When it's cold outside, I drink a lot of hot tea. I can drink more tea than coffee because it's not so acidic. I love coffee too, but it bothers my stomach and tea does not. I love iced tea, hot tea, sweetened and non-sweet tea. Mint tea. mmmm.... Flavored teas. One of my favorite for hot is Earl Grey. I love the bergamot flavor in it. I prefer the Twinings brand over the Bigelow which is more commonly found in my local grocery stores. I am of English descent. Maybe that explains it but all I ever saw my parents drink was hot coffee, morning, noon and night. After I was older my dad said his parents never drank coffee, always hot tea. We moved when I was quite young so I didn't know this about them. Must have inherited the taste for tea. It wasn't taught to me. :-)