Sweet Tea

[Banquo's Ghost]

Civilised peoples drink their tea boiling hot, with a spot of milk and optional sugar or a slice of lemon.

This is correct. At most, it is permitted for the soldiering classes to drink stewed, sugary and lukewarm tea wherein a metal spoon will dissolve if left a moment too long so that Empires may be built and maintained correctly.

There is no advice on tea that can be properly offered by a people who insist on throwing large quantities of the stuff into harbours through pique.

I was told that earl grey tastes like fag ash, count me out...

I fear that your confidant may have been confused. Earl Grey's blend might conceivably be compared to drinking women's eau de toilette, but the "fag ash" slight is more likely aimed at something like Lapsang Souchong (a smoked Chinese tea of some sophistication).