Let’s Experience One of the Best English Traditions: Afternoon Tea!
A Cup of Tradition: Exploring the British Tea Culture.
Every one of us has heard the term “5 o’clock tea” or “the afternoon tea” as a tradition that is prominent among English people, especially in historical movies. Considering its importance and reputation, it should be an activity to experience early in the list while visiting England.
A Lady’s Elegant Battle With Hunger
Although drinking tea dates back to approximately 2700 BC in China, it became popular in England in the mid-17th century. After two centuries, in the 1840s, we see the first traces of afternoon tea with The Seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna introducing the concept. At that time, the meals consisted of only breakfast and dinner, so it is not difficult to figure out that people would become hungry today. The Duchess finds her way to stem this starvation before dinner at around 4 o’clock, with some cake, bread, and butter beside the tea that is brought to her. She repeated the same conduct until it became a habitual routine, ere began to invite her friends to this ritual. With the joining of acquaintances and guests, the concept became common in England as a fashionable social event.
Traditional Treats Among Tea
The Afternoon Tea is served with some national snacks such as British scones with clotted cream and preserves; finger sandwiches which are also called tea sandwiches with cucumber; and Victoria sponge cake whose name is derived from Queen Victoria when she approved the practice. In addition to the snacks, the tea from India and Ceylon is poured from silver pots into the fragile china cups.
Join People Comparing the Taste and the Theme!
If you are brooding on how to find these to experience, there is nothing easier than that! There are numerous cafes which are called Tea Rooms or Tea Houses all around Britain, and some of the most famous ones are Oh Me Oh My, Bettys, Time for Tea, The Bridge Tea Rooms, Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason.
☹ This enjoyable activity has become less attentive nowadays, with people drinking tea from a mug with only biscuits or a small cake. On the other hand, for some people, Afternoon Tea is an event to be organized on special days like birthdays or baby showers. With this refined concept, champagne is added to it to celebrate the special event. However, do not forget to embellish your Afternoon Tea with champagne, since your being there to leave a new pleasant memory to your life is an ample reason for today being a special day!