My Cup of Tea . . . and Yours by Janet Eldred Reprinted from the Yorkshire Evening Press by permission of author

What's that in the cup by your elbow? Yes, right now as you're reading this. Coffee? Orange juice? Water? It might be any of these, but chances are that it's tea. Yet despite being enjoyed in Britain for more than 300 years, tea is taken for granted. Well, all of that is about to change. Today, you and I are launching a new consumer campaign called TEABAG: the Tea Enthusiasts' Alliance in Britain and Globally.

Don't worry about your over-crowded diary with no room for another commitment. There aren't any scheduled meetings and you won't be asked to stand for a committee. There are just a few simple steps you'll be asked to take to raise public awareness of this undervalued refreshment, and these are listed at the end of the article. For the moment, I simply want you to consider why we need TEABAG.

Any foreigner will tell you that a cup of tea and a pint of ale are the quintessential British beverages. Yet, whereas the latter engenders reams of articles and books, festivals both large and small, and even its own consumer campaigns to preserve traditional beer and pubs, the virtues of tea are largely overlooked. Granted, there's no threat—so far— tea disappearing from our supermarket shelves or of being replaced in restaurants by an alternative that bears no resemblance to the original. Indeed, rather than shrinking, our choices of tea types are actually expanding. Japanese Green, Chinese Oolong, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, American herbals—there's a variety to suit everyone and every mood.

Nevertheless, it would be foolish to be unprepared. Call me a tea-vangelist if you will, but I propose that tea is worthy of equal attention, connoisseurship, respect and support to beer. Nothing less than Britain's national heritage is at stake. (Cue Land of Hope and Glory.) Think about all the places you enjoy drinking tea: alone in the sanctuary of your home, at a friend's house, or in a tea shop. Could you do without any of these?

On your own, tea means comfort; with a friend, it becomes the source of sociability. The introduction of teapot, cups, sugar bowl, and milk jug make a grand occasion of a simple conversation. There's usually a plate of biscuits or some cake to delight the child in all of us. "Would you like a cup of tea?" is a question that always cheers because it signals a break from the routine, a good chat, and some laughter.

To really "do" tea right, though, it must be savored in a tea shop. And what wonderful tea shops England has! Each time I see one I long to investigate, to study the menu and the decor, handle the china teapot and cups, admire the tea cosy, sample homemade soups and sweets, and judge how friendly the service is by whether they let me linger. Late on an afternoon, a cream tea in a homey country tea shop is just this side of heaven. Whether in public or private, then, the British custom of tea as a treat for the senses and an extension of hospitality warms the heart and feeds the soul. (By now, you should be humming Rule Britannia.)

By recognising the virtues of tea on a national scale, Britain doesn't need to institute anything akin to Japan's formal tea ceremony. The pleasures of tea can be touted by each of us. Here's how. Next time you and a friend share a cuppa, do what the pubgoers do and make the drink part of your conversation. When you're in the supermarket, pick up a small box of a new "varie-tea" in addition to your "usual".

Trade tea bags with your friends. Throw a tea-tasting party, and have the guests bring homemade sweets. Do you have a unique teapot, or one with an unusual history? Write down the details and share them with your family. Support your local tea shop by visiting it at least weekly.

Above all, keep drinking tea. Preserving Britain's heritage is up to you. (God save the Queen here, please.) Why does this Yankee care so much? Let's just say that it has something to do with the fact that my last US home was a place, where they had a different kind of Tea Party, called Boston. . . +