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Tea in Britain

Tea drinking has been a long tradition in Britain. It was first introduced in the 17th century by the British East India Company and was an expensive product only available to the rich. However, it grew in popularity over the centuries and became a staple beverage for all social classes. Afternoon tea also became a popular social tradition starting in the 19th century. During World Wars I and II, the British government took steps to ensure adequate tea supplies for public morale, instituting rationing during periods where supply was restricted.

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90 views3 pages

Tea in Britain

Tea drinking has been a long tradition in Britain. It was first introduced in the 17th century by the British East India Company and was an expensive product only available to the rich. However, it grew in popularity over the centuries and became a staple beverage for all social classes. Afternoon tea also became a popular social tradition starting in the 19th century. During World Wars I and II, the British government took steps to ensure adequate tea supplies for public morale, instituting rationing during periods where supply was restricted.

Uploaded by

Secret95
Copyright
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Gre at Britain-a tea drinking nation?

Tea is the British and Irish national drink. Teas in Britain are drunk daily, often many cups a day, but where did this love of teas in Britain come from? Tea was first brought to Britain in the early !th century by the "ast India #ompany. It was an e$pensive product and one only for the rich and often kept under lock and key. #atherine of Bragan%a, wife of #harles II introduced the ritual of drinking teas to the "nglish &oyal #ourt and the habit was soon adopted by the aristocracy. The first tea shop for ladies was opened by Thomas Twining in ! ! and slowly tea shops began to appear throughout "ngland making the drinking of teas available to everyone. The British further developed their love of teas during the years of the British "mpire in India. There are currently almost ,'(( different teas in Britain. They all vary in style, taste and color. Indian Teas India is one of the main growers exporting 12% of the worlds teas. The three main types popular in the UK are: Darjeeling which comes from orthern India and is a light delicate tea ! perfect for "fternoon Teas. Ceylon Tea is slightly stronger than #ar$eeling. It is aromatic with a slightly sharp taste.

Assam is a strong tea which stands up well to %eing %lended. &ther teas found in 'ritain and Ireland are Darjeeling Orange Pekoe, or Ceylon Broken Orange Pekoe. This tea is not orange in fla(or) %ut descri%es the si*e of leaf.

China Teas The %irthplace of tea +hina produces 1,% of the worlds tea . Two fa(orite types are:

Lapsang Souchong is perhaps the most famous of china teas) the %est coming from the hills in north -u$ian. It has a smo.y aroma and fla(or. unnan is a %lac. tea from the pro(ince of /unnan. The rich) earthy fla(or is similar to "ssam and ma.es a great %rea.fast tea.

There are many other (arieties from %oth India and +hina and other countryswhich include green teas) white teas and aromatics. Time !or "ea

0ater in the nineteenth century then) going out to a tea shop %ecame a popular pastime for women. 'ut tea remained a %e(erage that was mostly drun. at home. Tea was drun. at %rea.fast %y all social classes. "mong the rich) it would typically accompany a (ast spread of %read or toast) cold meats and pies) eggs and fish. &f course some families fa(oured a lighter %rea.fast) and lower down the social scale this was a necessity rather than an option. 1oor families usually %egan the day with a cup of tea) as well as %read and %utter. Tea was then drun. at regular inter(als throughout the day.

A!"ernoon "ea )hile tea was part of the staple diet of the poor, among the rich tea-drinking was evolving into an elaborate social occasion. *fternoon teas probably had their roots in the ladies tea-parties of the seventeenth centuries, but evolved during the eighteenth century into something of a national institution. Tradition has it that afternoon tea was +invented+ by *nna ,aria, the wife of the seventh -uke of Bedford, who in ./ started drinking tea and having a bite to eat in the mid-afternoon, to tide her over during the long gap between lunch 0eaten at about o+clock1 and dinner 0eaten at around ! o+clock1. This swiftly developed into a social occasion, and soon the -uchess was inviting guests to 2oin her for afternoon tea at ' o+clock. It did not become instantly popular elsewhere though, partly because in fashionable circles dinner was eaten earlier, leaving less of a gap to be filled by afternoon tea. But by the .3(s the fashion for afternoon tea had become widespread. 4uch teas were elegant affairs, with tea drunk from the best china and small amounts of food presented perfectly on little china plates. 5n offer might be bread and butter, scones and cakes, and sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Tea in the first and second world war -uring the 4econd )orld )ar, the government took even more drastic action to safeguard this essential morale-booster. 6ust two days after war broke out, it took control of all tea stocks, and ordered that the vast reserves then stored in 7ondon must be dispersed to warehouses outside the capital in case of bombing. )hen during 8/( enemy blockades prevented ships from getting through, the ,instry of 9ood introduced a ration of :o% of tea per person per week for those over the age of five. This was not a lot, enough for two or three cups a day of rather weak tea. But there was e$tra tea for those in the armed forces, and on the domestic front for those in vital 2obs such as firemen and steel workers. Tea was also sent in &ed #ross parcels to British prisoners of war abroad.

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