It's a cultural thing.
South America and Mexico have been pumping out coffee for hundreds of years now. Where India, Indonesia, and Africa have been growing coffee. They have been growing tea more.
Warm, tropical climates high in the mountains. Anything below 1600 ft high and it's junk.
The same thing for coffee.
Earl Grey has oil of Bergamot in it....dunno what that's about exactly...but those who like it swear by it.
Same thing with coffee...it's a cultural gathering point.
what can I say, my ancestors were from China
Tea is the thing
Though most 'english tea' is actually grown in India and is the most common round these parts, though I dont really consider it to be real tea when its drunk with milk, made with tea bags, though I cant really get away from it.
and iced tea, what is that?!
It has to be jasmine or oolong tea and drunk with dim sum to be authentic.