Tea

Tea is both a plant grown on Earth and a drink made of the dried leaves of the plant submersed in hot water and allowed to brew. It originating in Asia. Before it spread to the west, the average English person, such as Will Chandler, who came from 1643, had it explained to him by the the Doctor as "a noxious infusion of oriental leaves containing a high percentage of toxic acid". The Doctor then professed that he rather liked it. (DW: The Awakening) It was later a favorite drink of the English and of the Doctor as well.

A potential future version of the Doctor met by his seventh incarnation had a particularly great interest in it. (DWM: Party Animals)

Minor references

• Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart has occasionally used tea to break up the conversation, offering it to Zoe when she became worried of the Doctor's safety when he was pursuing Tobias Vaughn. (DW: The Invasion)

• During his time with UNIT the Doctor drank a lot of tea. Only the tea lady and the Brigadier could come into his lab. (DW: Terror of the Autons) He also made a habit of stirring his tea with anything available such as a silicon rod. (DW: The Three Doctors)

• Sarah Jane Smith mutteredthat she could "murder a cup of tea". (DW: The Time Warrior)

• Whilst in Victorian London the Doctor and Professor Litefoot attempted to educate Leela on the etiquette of tea. (DW: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)

• Tibetans drank hot yak butter tea to fortify themselves against the cold of their native land. (DWM: Yonder, the Yeti!)

• Captain Cook offered many people, and even when captured by the Psychic Circus was still able to drink, tea. (DW: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy)

• During the Shoreditch Incident the Doctor went to a cafe within central London and has a mug of tea, and discusses many things on his mind around the nature of evil and destiny. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks)

• The Doctor whilst in his seventh incarnation was particularly fond of Lapsang Souchong tea, a style which Provost-Major Beltemst also appeared to enjoy. (NA: Original Sin)

• When the Doctor's TARDIS was destroyed the Doctor and Fitz sat around talking about all the tea they used to love drinking which is now gone. (EDA: The Shadows of Avalon)

• Whilst in Cardiff the Doctor and Rose took tea with Charles Dickens at Mr Sneed's house, served by Gweneth. (DW: The Unquiet Dead)

• Tea was also able to assist the Doctor in recovering from his ninth regeneration. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)