Canadians have been large consumers of tea since their early pioneer days. While the American Revolution was taking place in the 1770s and many American colonists were boycotting tea as a symbol of their defiance, some colonists refrained from following their neighbors and instead, remained loyal to the monarchy, the British Empire, and, of course, the tea-drinking traditions. The Loyalists emigrating en masse to Canada from the American colonies probably helped to ingrain further the tea-dinking custom in Canada.

These days, Canadians consume over seven billion cups of tea annually, the tea drinking being evenly shared by men and women. Canadians drink black tea, usually made with Orange Pekoe grade tea bags. Tea is served straight (without milk or sugar), light (with milk or 10 percent butterfat cream), and light with sugar (with 1 tsp. Of sugar and milk). Clover honey, white sugar, raw sugar, or artificial sugar may be added to tea as a sweetener. Most restaurants offer a variety of sweeteners to choose from.

CAMPFIRE TEA
Heat the tea water in a large can on the hot coals of your campfire. When the water is hot and steaming, remove the can from the fire. Wear heavy gloves, so you will not burn your hands. Add a few tea bags to the water and infuse them for several minutes. Pour the hot tea into your campfire cup and sweeten it with sugar, if desired.

NOTE: Coffee tins or large soup cans work well for heating the water.

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