On this matter of tea, the Tea Tax had a profound cultural impact on the US: it marked our switch to other beverages, notably coffee. We haven't been able to relax since.
While I take your theory as to some extent light-hearted, I do wonder if it might not genuinely have something to it. At times history seems to hinge on the smallest and most seemingly inconsequential things. Unfortunately, there's just no way to test the idea conclusively.