What are the rules of the British afternoon tea tradition?
For the British, tea is much more than just a beverage. The British, who take pride in drinking tea, consume an average of 2 kilograms of tea per person annually. So why do the British drink tea at 5 o'clock? What is served at British afternoon tea? Here is the history of tea in England and the rules of the afternoon tea tradition that the British regularly practice.
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Since England is among the countries that cannot grow tea due to its climate, its introduction to tea dates back to the 17th century. European merchants began bringing tea from China to England. However, the Chinese sold tea only for silver and gold coins, which caused tea to become a beverage that could only be consumed by the upper class. Although tea, which was sold in various coffeehouses in the first half of the 17th century, failed to become a daily consumed beverage, it was used in the treatment of diseases. With the tea fashion started by the Queen of England in the second half of the 1700s, tea culture began to develop in England. Although drinking tea became a habit in England, it was difficult due to the extremely high price at which tea was sold. A group of botanists sent to China learned how to grow tea and began growing it in India by taking tea seedlings. Thanks to the Ceylon teas produced in China, England began to consume tea more cheaply.
HISTORY OF BRITISH AFTERNOON TEA
Afternoon tea, one of the most deep-rooted traditions of the British, is also called evening tea. The 5 o'clock tea ritual, started by the Duchess of Bedford in the 19th century, emerged when the Duchess ate tea and sandwiches between lunch and dinner. Her guests also joined the Duchess's habit, and after a while, it turned into one of England's most popular social rituals.
At the end of the 1900s, bourgeois women in society began to gather in the afternoon to drink tea. Women attended tea meetings, usually held between 4 and 5 o'clock, wearing long silk gloves and hats. As the King also liked this habit, tea parties began to be organized in the palace every evening. Today, the British afternoon tea habit still continues.
WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE BRITISH AFTERNOON TEA TRADITION?
The British set up two separate tables for afternoon tea. While service is provided at one table, tea is drunk at the other accompanied by conversation. In other words, tea is not drunk at the service table.
It is important to use elegant accessories such as hats, lace handkerchiefs, and silk gloves when attending a tea party.
Tea should be served in porcelain or silver cups.
Two types of snacks, sweet and savory, are prepared alongside the tea.
The snacks must be small and bite-sized. Because using a fork and knife at afternoon tea is not considered polite.
Afternoon tea is generally held between 16:00 and 17:00.
According to the afternoon tea tradition, having the teapot on the same table as the guests is seen as rude behavior.
It is also not considered polite for the host to interrupt their guests while serving tea. To ask a question, one waits for the guests to finish speaking.
If a guest does not finish the snacks at afternoon tea, they may not be invited to the next tea ceremony.