drinking teas while dining out...

[Cofftea]

Because you can't just drink tea at home!

[JP]

If I'm somewhere that offers an uncommon selection of teas I might try one. There is a local restaurant that makes a superb iced tea that has been herbed. The chef won't tell me what's in it, all I know is that it is the best iced tea that I have ever had.

[Riene]

"It depends" on what teas they have. I always carry a bag or two of good Twinings or something similar, but have been known to try what's offered.

[Goose]

I bring my own Oolong to the local Szechuan restaurant , the are great with hot water, the waiter and owner always taste it and compare to the house tea.

[Victoria]

I always bring my own.

[Chip]

Have teabag, will travel.

I will ask if they have a tea selection out of courtesy, then ask if I may have a cup of hot water, please. I used to be self conscious about this, but practice makes perfect.

[wyardley]

I bring my own Oolong to the local Szechuan restaurant , the are great with hot water, the waiter and owner always taste it and compare to the house tea.

I can't generally taste (or feel) tea while eating Sichuan food anyway. It's one of the few times when I'm generally pretty happy to drink the standard restaurant teabag jasmine tea.

[Sydney]

99% of the time, I just drink sweet iced tea at any given restaurant. This is Mississippi, after all.

But some restaurants do offer something more interesting, and I'll go for that.

Once in a good while, I'll actually whip out my own tea service and have a proper loose tea session right there.

[gingkoseto]

Maybe I should choose 2. I've drunk most of the puerh in my life for free, in Chinese restaurant, especially for dim sum I am not a big fan of puerh, don't buy expensive puerh, but believe in its health benefit. It (and sometimes shui xian) does help my belly process greasy food. Other than puerh, I don't feel a need to drink tea during meal and don't care what they give to me.

[auggy]

Pretty much the only place I'll drink the tea is at an Asian restaurant. Hot tea anywhere else seems to be... lacking. And I'm not forward thinking enough to bring my own.

[brandon]

My chinese place recently added the option of Gao Shan. It comes in a large pot, with a tea pouch, this is the size of maybe 6 standard teabags and full of whole leaf gao shan. Tastes great. I'll also drink the genmai cha at Japanese restaurants without too much complaint.

[Victoria]

I always drink the house tea when offered. It's at non-Asian restaurants where I bring my own.

[Oolonga]

I always order iced tea because I usually don't like hot tea with food other than dessert. It is rarely good though...

[heavydoom]

imo, it's rude and/or snobby to bring your own tea when dining out. drink what's there.

[Riene]

imo, it's rude and/or snobby to bring your own tea when dining out. drink what's there.

I live in the American midwest. There are very few restaurants here which serve hot tea. You are lucky if you get tepid water and a limp bag of stale Lipton.

Generally, I drink iced tea with everything but breakfast. There are times, however, I want a post-dinner or pre-dinner cup of hot tea, especially when it's cold outside. I bring quality teabags with me for this purpose. I still pay for the tea, and I don't make a big deal of using my own bags--in fact, I'm pretty stealthy about it. I don't find it rude and or snobby.

I wouldn't bring my own bread or coffee, no--but restaurants here make excellent coffee, iced tea, mixed drinks, etc, in a wide variety of styles and flavors--the options are there. It's only with hot tea that the options aren't available.