The whole world knows that the British honor the traditions of their ancestors. The role of the culture of drinking tea in the UK can be compared with the code of Japanese samurai. Drink goes through life with an Englishman. In an ordinary cafe or at a business meeting, it does not matter, everywhere you can choose a tea from a variety of species.
Englishmen very often drink strong tea, but always add a lot of milk there. Tea drinking is usually arranged at eleven in the morning and at five in the evening.
History of the English tea tradition
How did the tradition of drinking tea originate in England? The country was introduced to this drink by Princess of Portugal Katharina of Braganis, who was the wife of King Charles II.She adored tea and brought this drink to England, where she introduced all the aristocrats to him.
Tea drinking as a custom was born in the first half of the last century. Ancestor was the Duchess of Bedford - Anna. She complained about a big break between lunch and dinner and asked to bring her cookies and tea about 4-5 hours after noon. Then she began to invite guests to this event, which is called a tea party. Many people began to arrange this kind of tea drinking, after watching Anna. Now throughout the world English tea drinking is known as "five-o'clock".
Charles Dickens often wrote about tea ceremonies. In his works, you can find a description of how workers drink tea. He openly talks about his love for tea drinking.
How did the tea get to England? Everyone knows that tea is grown in India and China. In the British Isles, this drink has gained popularity very quickly. In the 17th century Britain there were special tea trades, selling tea from China. Time was limited to the time of burning candles. Such auctions were held until the 90s of the 20th century. These activities stopped because Kenya, Sri Lanka and India gained independence. And the owners of tea plantations decided to sell tea directly.
How the tea ceremony is held
On the table should be a tablecloth of traditionally white color and napkins, as well as flowers. Crockery from porcelain, also white and from one set. On the table should be: a cup and a saucer, a teapot, a vessel with boiling water, a milkman, a strainer, a sugar bowl, tea boats and a teapot cover.
Snacks for tea are put on small plates. You can not take them with your hands, you need a knife and a fork. Guests have a choice of 6-9 varieties of tea. And especially revered tea blends, which the hostess prepared with her own hands.
An integral part of tea drinking in English is milk. But few know that milk can not be poured into tea - just the opposite.
Rules for tea etiquette
Are there any rules that should be followed during the tea ceremony? Of course yes. There is a whole etiquette for visiting these events, which to this day is strictly observed by the British. Here are the basic rules of it:
- It is necessary to take a napkin and put on your knees.
- First of all, sugar is put in the tea and then a lemon. Milk and lemon can not be confused.
- Several snacks are served for tea: hot snacks, British scones, and then sweets and biscuits. And you can eat them only in such a strict order.
- A teaspoon can not be kept in a cup, it should be on a saucer.
- A protruding little finger is considered a bad tone when the spoon is in the hands.
A resident of the UK drinks an average of 5 cups of tea a day. The very first tea falls on the early morning, after the ascent. Then they drink tea at the first breakfast - most often tea called "English Breakfast".During lunch, at 11 o'clock, they again drink tea. Then at five o'clock in the afternoon, the majority of the island's residents choose a tea called "English Afternoon".And after work they prefer "Earl Gray".