Coffee goes with carpools, cell phones and rush hour: Tea with serenity, peace and a calmer approach to life. Since 9/11, people have started to see how important it is to slow down, even if it’s for just a few minutes each day. Introducing the calming effect, not to mention the numerous health benefits, of drinking tea is a wonderful way to begin.

I must admit I was a classic coffee connoisseur, I could smell the difference between Starbucks and Einstein Brothers; could taste the difference between a Breakfast Blend and a Columbian Roast. I depended on coffee to get me out of bed and to carry me through numerous long nights of work. But like many, I decided to give tea a try. Involved with a company concerned about health, I could no longer ignore the abundant number of studies touting the health benefits of green and black teas.

I started having a cup of tea after dinner, next thing I knew I was brewing up pitchers full every weekend. My newfound tea fling doesn’t mean I’ve abandon coffee – that’s still the only way I can start my day. I now enjoy both; tea is just more serene.

It seems I’m not alone – apparently everyone is doing it. Tea sales have more than doubled since 1990. The finest restaurants in the country have added tea experts. In addition, there are over 1,000 freestanding tearooms in the United States with the number of books about tea and tea accessories enjoying an explosive growth.

As your tea experience grows, you too will soon taste the differences and recognize the unique scents associated with different teas. You will begin blending different teas together to create tastes that suit you. One of my favorites is blending Chinese Gun Powder with Maple green tea. English Breakfast blended with Strawberry black tea makes a wonderful iced tea.

I hope I’ve inspired you to try a freshly brewed cup of tea. You can do it: Go beyond the tea bag stage and brew a fresh loose-leaf tea. It is not difficult.