I am a frustrated sommelier, meaning that I am not a sommelier in profession. I rather think of myself as an individual that is wholly passionate about wines. I like reading about them. My coffee table is stocked with wine-booklets and guides. I have also attended a couple of wine appreciation courses that include wine tastings, dinners and exhibitions. I love drinking wines; examining its ruby-red or golden coloring. I am not the only person with such fascination with this ň€śelixir of lifeň€ť as I coin it. I have met a lot of individuals who are also interested about wine and want to learn as much as they can about it. Nonetheless, due to their busy schedules and other commitments they were unable to find time to attend wine tastings and the like.
A cup of tea is just more than a refreshment drink. It is a companion that accompanies us right from the daybreak and helps us breathe an air of relief in the midst of daily chores. Gourmet tea forms an inevitable part of chatting sessions with friends and dear ones and adds flavor in our leisure hours.
Each year, the National Coffee Association of the USA publishes their report on National Coffee Drinking Trends. The report has become one of the bibles of the coffee industry. The 2008 report has recently been made available, and the NCAUSA web site gives a brief summary of what the organization has found out about how we Americans like our coffee. Here are some highlights from the 2008 Coffee Drinking Trends report: