"Are you serious?"
"Yea. The good news is, you get to hang out with all the smokers who have been likewise banished." I explained.
"You're joking, right?"
"Okay, you found me out, I'm kidding. Yes, we all take our tea and coffee for granted. You've heard of comfort food? Tea is like liquid harmony. Water from the sun for my tea, please," I call upon an imaginary waiter. My companion remains lost in his phone.
"Who would have guessed that tea is a Camellia plant?" I continue, undaunted. "Camellia Sinensis to be exact. It started out as a medicine and is now the most popular beverage in the world. It's good for you, it tastes great, and that little bit of caffeine is fun. They say you can study tea for a hundred years and never learn all the varieties." I take a satisfying sip.
"Hey, sure, tea is great. But what's it done for me lately?" He almost makes eye contact to get his point across.
"Tea is old school. It connects us to each other, a little bit like your hand held device there. Look, here we are having tea together, while you stroke your phone, expanding the view so you can read this blog. It's like magic and stuff."
"Huh?"
I pour more tea and smile.