I guessed tea tasted alright, though I didn't have much exposure outside of my mom's boiled eucalyptus leaves with honey. She made it when I was sick, and I didn't hate it. During the cold winter months in college I often snuck generic teabags out of the dining hall. I wanted something to keep me warm, and was never much of a coffee drinker. But the dull flavors of my free tea left much to be desired.

Legend has it that this first happened when the moon fell in love with a comet. As comets typically do, it passed by and disappeared. Heartbroken, the moon cried big milky tears over the tea gardens, which chilled the leaves and gave them a creamy flavor.

When Rafa Royett moved to Argentina in 2011, mate was not his cup of tea. A native of Colombia, one of the world's top 5 coffee-producing nations, he spent his first year in Argentina maintaining a safe distance from the slightly pungent herbal drink. He might politely take a sip if offered, but was far from adopting the typical Argentine breakfast of mate and cookies.

I press down on the hot water button in the nearly empty office kitchen to get a quick fix before my next meeting when I hear my name being called. "Epiphany, is this any good?" a coworker asks, holding up a box of tea that bears a brand name I have never seen before. I'm flattered.