In Britain, tea is not merely a beverage, it is a lifestyle and consumed in all its forms, including white, black, green, oolong and others. Although, black tea is by far the most popular, other exotic varieties such as white tea are also growing in popularity.
There are many ways to drink tea in Britain and there is plenty of freedom to innovate. But whether you fancy just dumping a bag of English Breakfast into a mug of hot water, crave your elevenses or hanker for a full-on afternoon tea, we are all united by the Great British Tea Culture!
The Much-Abridged Version of the Long History of Tea in Britain
China may have discovered tea and monopolized it for centuries, but it was the British that made it the world’s most popular drink after water! While tea had already been introduced to Europe in the early 1600s, it was still not common in Britain at the time. But thanks to dear old Charles II’s marriage to Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza, who loved tea, the beverage became quite fashionable amongst royalty and the aristocracy. Then in 1664, the British East India Company placed its first order of tea from China, officially commencing Britain’s love affair with tea.
For a long time since its introduction to Britain, tea was expensive and reserved for the upper classes. This became even more so when sugar began to be consumed with tea, as the sweet stuff too was initially a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford to splurge on. In fact, consuming tea with sugar was seen as a major status symbol for some time.
As tea became more freely available, an entire nation fell in love with it, causing massive demand, which even led to Britain’s supply of silver coming under pressure, leading eventually to the Opium Wars. This rising demand and enduring love for tea in Britain inspired the stewards of Empire to begin the cultivation of tea in other parts of the British world. It was this taste for tea that saw the crop being introduced into India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Kenya and many other former British Colonies. It was in Ceylon, however, that the British discovered the most magical ‘terroirs’ for tea. Since then, Ceylon has yielded, and continues to yield today, the world’s finest teas.
Today, tea is probably the strongest common link that Britain still shares with the Commonwealth and it is something that ties us all together. Ultimately, it was the British passion for tea that made it a global everyday indulgence that almost anyone from anywhere can relate to.
Top British Tea Traditions
Tea traditions in Britain are wide and varied and include:
Formal Afternoon Tea – The poshest, most “British” form of tea, this is a late afternoon meal, previously enjoyed mostly by the upper classes. Historically a mostly female affair, afternoon tea is now open to all in private or in public. While formal afternoon tea is all about flair and fancy, many of us are partial to the simple joy of tea with a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick me up.
Elevenses – For many, this is a much-cherished indulgence; a cup of tea and a biscuit, or a piece of cake or some other small treat, around 11.am.
High Tea – While high tea is commonly mixed up with afternoon tea, the two are not the same. High tea is much less fancy, and much more substantive fare is served such as fish and meat. It is also usually taken in the early afternoon. The “high” refers to it being traditionally served on a high table, as opposed to low tables, which were used for afternoon tea or “low” tea.
The Tea Room/House – While many British tea rooms have given way to more fashionable coffee houses, the British tea room remains one of the hallmarks of British Tea Culture. A welcoming space for indulging in a spot of tea and gossip, they are still found throughout the UK.
