“A NICE CUPPA”

The British Afternoon Tea Ritual

Jelena Šakić

British Cultural Studies

The English Department

The Faculty of Philology

10 May 2010

. . . TEA. . .

• . . .HISTORY

• . . .TIME

• . . .ETIQUETTE

• SOCIAL RELEVANCE. . .

• Tea Trivia

NATION’S FAVOURITE BEVERAGE

• China – Camellia sinensis

• Japan – Buddhist monks - Tea ceremony

• Britain → British East India Company→ Catherine of

Braganza • 1st order→ 1664→100lbs (45kg) of China tea from Java

• Men→ coffee houses→ middle-/ upper- class• Women→ at home

• => too expensive for working class

• Taxation (18th century) = 1. smuggling

2. adulteration

…sheep’s dung, copper carbonate…

"There are few hours in life

more agreeable than the hour

dedicated to the ceremony

known as afternoon tea." 

                                        Henry James

TEA TIME

• 1. Afternoon Tea (Low Tea)

4 o’clock tea (3pm - 5pm)

Tea +

scones cakes

small sandwiches pastries

Anna, Duchess of Bedford (1840)

Afternoon Tea

• 2. High Tea

6 o’clock tea (5pm – 7pm)

Working class supper (19th cent) → refuel the bodyTea +

hot meat cakes

cheese custards

egg fresh fruits

pot pies

salads Little used in the UK

High Tea

• 3. Cream Tea

Devonshire Tea or Cornish Cream TeaTavistock Abbey – Monks (no sandwiches/ cakes)

Tea +

freshly baked fruit scones butter

clotted cream strawberry jam

Cream Tea

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world

earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward

the future.”

Thich Nhat Hahn

TEA ETIQUETTE

• Pinkies Up!

• Napkins

• How to eat a scone

• Stirring tea and spoon placement

• Drinking tea and adding milk

vs.

A VERY BRITISH TRADITION

• TEA = 165 million cups daily (60.2 billion annually)

• coffee = 70 million cups daily

• Working class → “industrial quantities of strong, brick-coloured, sweet, milky tea”.

• Lower-middle/ middle-middle class → “a paler, ‘posher’ version” of the working-class tea

(Twinings English Breakfast)

• Upper-middle/ upper class → “weak, dishwater-coloured, unsweetened Earl Grey”

ONE LUMP OR TWO?

• “Taking sugar in your tea is regarded by many as an infallible lower-class indicator”.

Tea Trivia

Does one TAKE or DRINK tea?

→One drinks tea ←

During the Victorian era, the term “to take tea” was used by the lower classes and considered a vulgar expression by the upper classes.

When drinking tea does one lift the teacup and saucer or just the teacup?

• Table → raise the teacup only → back onto saucer in btw sips.

• Buffet tea → tea saucer in lap with left hand, hold tea cup in right hand.

When not in use → place tea cup on tea saucer, hold in lap.

• Never wave/ hold tea cup in the air.

Tea bags

Remove tea bag from cup.

Place on side saucer/ slop bowl.

Do not use string to wrap around / squeeze tea bag.

Where to tea…?

• 1. Brown’s Hotel, London

Traditional Afternoon Tea - £37.00 (43 EUR)

Freshly Cut Sandwiches Assorted Pastries Freshly Baked Fruit And Plain Scones With Clotted Cream And Strawberry PreserveChoice Of Cakes From The TrolleyChoice Of Teas

• 2. The Dorchester Afternoon Tea, London

£34.50 per person (40 EUR)                         

A selection of finger sandwiches:                    

Cucumber with cream cheese on caraway seed bread                    Egg mayonnaise with shiso cress on white bread                    Chicken with wholegrain mustard mayonnaise on basil bread              Smoked salmon on granary bread                    ***                    Warm raisin and plain scones from our bakery, served with homemade strawberry jam, a seasonal jam and Devonshire clotted cream

***                    A selection of French pastries                    ***                    Tea or coffee            

            

A discretionary service charge will be added to your bill. All prices include VAT.

QUESTIONS

1) Who “invented” afternoon tea and why?

2) What is the difference between

High Tea and Afternoon Tea?

3) How can the act of drinking tea be a class indicator?

4) Describe one aspect of tea etiquette.

5) What were the consequences of the taxation of tea?

Jonathan Evans – Making the Perfect Cup of Tea

TEA, ANYONE?