LONDON PROJECT. FOOD: AFTERNOON TEA

 Tea is undoubtedly the most widespread drink in England.

  But do you know anything about tea itself?

  When and how did it become so reknown in the UK in general?

  You will find the answers to these questions and more info in the following text:

What Is Tea?

After water, Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world.

Tea is a drink that is produced from the combination of cured leaves of the Camellia Sinensis (tea) plant – that grows in tropical and sub-tropical climates, mostly Asia and Africa -  with hot water.

Tea is recorded to have been consumed first in 10th century BC in China. Then, it spread to Korea and Japan.

During the 16th century Portuguese exploration of the Far East, tea was traded with the West and as a result, the tea plant spread to the rest of the world.

Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese queen consort to King Charles II, introduced the drinking of tea in the UK.

In the 19th century until tea drinking became a common pastime for all the social classes. 

Types Of Tea

There are (at least) four different types of tea: white, green, oolong and black tea. The type depends on the processing of the leaves – fermentation -. When they dry As the chlorophyll breaks down, the tea leaves darken and release tannins.

Tea as we know it in the UK is more often sold as teabags. Most popular brands of teabags are usually made by blending a variety of different teas together. Tea is renowned for containing numerous antioxidants and less caffeine than coffee. There are also certain teas used in diets and tea for weight loss.

 

Afternoon Tea

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
Henry James

Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840 was usually hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. In those times people only ate breakfast and dinner, which was served at eight o’clock.

The Duchess asked for a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room at Wobburn Abbey – her summer residence - . Soon she began inviting friends to join her back in London.

Nevertheless the custom expanded when Queen Victoria started to invite people to her afteroon teas – 4pm to 7pm – .

This pause for tea became a social event of the upper- class society women during the 1880’s usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock while they were seating in comfortable sofas or armchairs. Working classes from northern England and southern Scotland would have the “high tea” as it would be served later – from six o´clock on when they came back from work and at the dinner table – as a substitute for dinner.

English High Tea usually involved a mug of tea, bread, vegetables, cheese and occasionally meat. Variations on high tea could include the addition of pies, potatoes and crackers.  Whereas rich people would favoured themselves with veal and fruit while their servants were not at home or busy.

Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream, cakes and pastries. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver tea pots into delicate china cups.

Nowadays however, in the average home, afternoon tea is just a biscuit or small cake and a mug of tea, usually produced using a teabag.

Afternoon tea tradition can be mostly tasted at one of London’s finest hotels – the Ritz, the Savoy and even … Harrods!!! -  or in a tearoom in the west country: Devonshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Somerset.

In Britain today Afternoon Tea is usually enjoyed or to celebrate a special event, such as a birthday, a pre-wedding party, or baby shower with a group of friends.

A traditional tea menu might read as follows:

Traditional Afternoon Tea Menu

A selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches

Warm scones with clotted cream and preserves

A variety of home made cakes and pastries

Your choice from a range of teas

The classic selection of sandwiches served with Afternoon Tea includes:

• Cucumber;
• Egg mayonnaise with cress;
• Smoked salmon with cream cheese;
• Coronation chicken;
• Ham and mustard.

These are some of the tea varieties

 Assam   

A strong full-bodied tea from India, which has a distinctive, 'malty' flavour.    

Darjeeling

An aromatic and astringent tea from India, with a hint of almonds and wildflowers.

Earl Grey   

A blend of black teas scented with oil of bergamot named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834.

Lapsang Souchong

A Chinese tea fired over smoking pine needles, which produces a striking smoky odour and flavour.

 

    So, remember, whichever tea variety your choice may be you just have to ... 

RELAX and ENJOY IT.