Tea

Just anyone agree that when someone visits your home in the UK they must be offered a cup of tea. Ie how are you ? Would you like a cup of tea ? X

I'm a Brit who doesn't like tea, so I just usually offer 'a drink' with a choice of tea (my husband drinks it), coffee or council pop...

I also offer a drink rather than just 'tea'.

I pretty much knew what people drank who came to visit.  I had people who only drank tea and had some friends who were coffeeholics.  For the coffee people, I always brewed coffee - no instant.

If there was somebody who I didn't know well, I think I just automatically offered a cup of tea. 

Our first visitors from England were here several weeks ago, before our furniture even arrived.  First, they spent a week on a ranch in Wyoming and then flew home, diverting for several days in Chicago.  They were gagging for a proper cup of tea and were delighted to see that, despite no furniture, we had a kettle (and coffee maker).  Priorities!

And if somebody came over with a problem or was feeling low, let me just say "I'll put the kettle on!"

And if somebody came over with a problem or was feeling low, let me just say "I'll put the kettle on!"

Very Pauline Fowler!  But you know, putting the kettle on does really seem to help put things in perspective sometimes. 

Someone once told me the reason people put the kettle on in a crisis is because a hot, sweet drink is good for shock.

I don't drink tea or coffee so I hardly ever think to offer either to visitors and in fact we never have coffee in the house. I am more likely to offer iced water or whatever soft drink we have, which is usually Ribena (which by the way I notice no-one has ever taken me up on). My husband being a tea drinker is better at offering it to people. He usually offers beer first though!

I don't drink tea or coffee and am still learning what all of our friends drink, so I usually just ask "Do you want a drink?" or if I'm feeling cheeky "D'you want a cuppa?" and watch the person blink in surprise.   

My husband being a tea drinker is better at offering it to people. He usually offers beer first though!

I knew there was something I liked about Stu! 

I remember the first time I came to visit and DH took me to one of his friends house.  His friend ask me if I wanted a "brew" and all I could think of was:

What beer at this time of the morning?!?!?!   

Picture how amazed I was when DH got a coffee.

I always offer "coffee or tea" and then hope to god they ask for coffee. Apparently Americans don't know how to make tea properly. LOL. I've watched Jamie do it, copied his actions to the letter, and then been told that "I don't know what you do to it, but it's just not the same." At first this irked me until I found out that other American girlfriends had the same problem with their spouses. And to be honest, when Jamie makes me a cuppa, it DOES taste way better. 

I always offer a drink and if we have any biscuits I offer one as well.  It depends on the time of day as to what kind of drink that I offer.