Perfect when drunk steaming hot, usually served in a mug with milk, occasionally with one or two teaspoons of sugar. However, you can also have it cold, perhaps with ice, and possibly some lemon or leaves of mint to add flavour. I think you have already guessed what I am describing… it is Britain’s favourite drink: tea.
Tea drinking is considered quintessentially English, and each day in Britain approximately 165 million cups of tea are drunk. Although in the past tea was mainly consumed by the fashionably rich, nowadays tea is drunk very often and by most people. Some people drink as many as 15 to 20 cups of tea each day, while most of us drink around 5 or 6 cups of tea a day. Not only that, since the 18th century the United Kingdom has been one of the largest per capita tea consumers in the world. Yes, you have read correctly, an Englishman drinks more tea than any person of any other nation.
In Britain tea is usually black tea served with milk, never cream. The cream of a ‘Cream Tea’ refers to clotted cream served on scones, usually with jam or lemon curd, and is a speciality in Devon and Cornwall, beautiful counties of South West England. I will never forget my first ‘Cream Tea’. I remember it vividly, the glorious taste of Earl Grey tea, together with the sweetness of strawberry rhubarb jam on a warm sweet cream scone, following a long day at the beach. Absolutely perfect!
However, tea is not only the name of the beverage, but also of a late afternoon light meal at four o’clock. ‘Afternoon Tea’, a tradition introduced by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford in 1800s continues to this day. During ‘Afternoon Tea’ you will be served some sandwiches, scones and a selection of cakes, all served with tea. Something everyone should try!
However, be warned! In the privacy of your own home it is perfectly acceptable to drink your tea as you like, weak or strong, black or white, dunking biscuits in our tea or having scones with cream and jam with it. However when taking ‘Afternoon Tea’ in one of the finest hotels you should know about the rules and etiquette you must follow. It is important that you are aware of the dress code suitable for the venue.
Although most venues have a ‘smart casual’ dress code these days, some will request for men to wear a jacket and tie, and definitely no sportswear or trainers will be allowed. Also, dunking biscuits in your tea is not acceptable, while outstretching your little finger is pointless and silly. When it comes to a matter of drinking tea, there is no rule of whether you should add milk to tea or tea to milk. That is entirely your choice.
However, we cannot forget to mention the importance of tea in Chinese culture. Although I have not spent a great deal of time in this country, I have learnt that the history of tea in China is long, complex, and absolutely fascinating! Also, the Chinese people are without a doubt the ones who understand the nature of tea better than anyone else, and as the nation who loves their tea, I am sure we could learn from them not only how to drink tea, but how to drink tea well.
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