I've always assumed this is due to them not drinking much alcohol as a culture. Alcohol occupies so much of our focus in the West - so much has been written about the nuances of whiskey, wine, beer, etc. It stands to reason that cultures that don't drink alcohol as much would get just as invested in the drinks they do consume.

I think it depends.

Where I used to live in the Middle East, the culture was very tea (more specifically karak) centric for sure. But it wasn’t a hobby you get so deep into that you become very specific for the average person.

You just drive to your regular place. There’s only one choice and that’s karak. You sip it in your car, chat with your buddies, and you drive off.

Definitely do miss the late nights there. No alcohol, just tea and still an extremely social society.

As further evidence of that, in Utah, another place where many people don't drink alcohol, there are a plethora of "dirty soda" shops that sell non-alcoholic cocktails of soda with various additional syrups, juices, and flavors mixed in.