Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, and it comes from China, not Britain! Obvious, perhaps, but the popular association of tea with Britishness is a tragedy that must be stopped. That's why I also firmly reject the ludicrous notion that the artificially scented "Earl Grey tea" is some kind of default option; why give such credence to the habits of 19th century British aristocrats?
Artificially scented? The bergamot orange is a real plant.
Every culture that has tea will have flavored teas. It gives you something to do with the low-grade leaves. Just last night I tried ginseng oolong for the first time. Is it as artificial as earl grey?
So they say. Sorry, I'm half joking, half referring to this, from Wikipedia:
"Tea flavoured with bergamot to imitate the more expensive types of Chinese tea has been known in England at least since the 1820s. In 1837 there is a record of court proceedings against Brocksop & Co. who were found to have supplied tea 'artificially scented, and, drugged with bergamot in this country.'"
Yes, I'm quite a big fan of oolong flavored with osmanthus; haven't tried ginger.
When I moved to SF ~10y ago, you could get tea or coffee with strangers by walking into a cafe, but it's become taboo to talk to strangers in public when sober.
