3.31.2012

English Tea Benefits

By Robin Rohrs


Hot tea can be idea for cold days. Cooling you off in the summer is done with cold tea or it is used in combination with a meal. There have even been reports recently that drinking tea offers a variety of health benefits including fighting cancer and other diseases. Drinking tea is more than providing a refreshment. It's a meal.

Roots of Afternoon Tea

Although drinking tea has been a part of British culture since the mid-1600's, the tradition of high tea is a Victorian custom. Upper class citizens drank tea for mealtime after their children's bedtime. The Bedford Duchess, Anna Marie Russell, did not like waiting long times between meals. Midday snacking helped her achieve comfort before dinner.

Small cakes, or bread items went well with afternoon tea. Her friends followed her change in traditional meals. Afternoon tea became a meal of importance to the United Kingdom. Cucumber and ham and cheese based foods were popular a way to satisfy hunger with tea. Tradition brought tea to be drank with sweet desserts like sweet breads, cakes and scones.

Afternoon Tea is Different from High Tea

Those belonging to England's working class were not accustomed to snacking or small meals with tea and other items. They were at their jobs until late in the evening or out working on the farms. With all the work, they still made time for tea. Tea was served in the late evening and known as high tea.

High Tea was a primary meal. So high tea is a full meal served around sunset. An arrangement of meats, eggs and sandwiches are enjoyed at the time of high tea. The working class defines high as primary rather than arrogant. High tea was simply the largest meal that took place at the end of the day.

The Custom Today

Hotels and restaurants take part in afternoon tea. Tourists experience afternoon tea in the United Kingdom. Most people today when they take an afternoon tea will pair it with biscuits, a light cookie. Coffee to Americans is like tea to the British.

A few American hotels take part in afternoon tea. Many people have instilled afternoon tea into their traditions.




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