I grew up in the North and would never have had a tea experience if not for my best friend in HS. Her mum was from the UK and we had tea there every afternoon (plus other British goodies). That's where I got my love of hot tea and sweet juicy oranges. Plus back then imported biscuits were a rare treat. I loved seeing her bring out the tin from her family back home. There was never a tea bag in my Italian coffee drinking house, I can't remember when I first drank iced tea but I was certainly not at home! :)