As a representative of traditional European countries, the British are well-deserved, with a rich history of diverse cultures. Their tea-drinking habit has influenced the whole of Europe, and the "invention" or earliest name of English tea is derived from British tea-drinking habits.
The British enjoy the routine of tea coming and going, starting each day with tea and ending each day with tea. Take the aristocracy as an example, the tea-drinking time alone can be divided into the following categories by time slots.
1. Early Tea
Drinking time: After waking up
Introduction: This is the tea time before getting out of bed and the best way to greet overnight guests. The personal maid usually brews black tea for the host to drink on an empty stomach, mainly to warm the body and stimulate the stomach.
Meal content: A cup of hot black tea with milk
Common types of black tea: Ceylon black tea; Darjeeling black tea
2. Breakfast Tea
Time to drink tea: At breakfast
Introduction: This is tea time served with breakfast, where black tea with milk is usually used to aid digestion, especially since English breakfast is rich and greasy.
Contents of the meal: Black tea flavored with milk, roasted mushrooms, roasted pudding, sliced toast, and other traditional English breakfasts.
Common types of black tea: English Breakfast Tea; Assam Black Tea
3. Morning Tea
Tea drinking time: Around 11:00 am
Introduction: This informal tea time is between breakfast and lunch, only lasting 10 to 15 minutes, and is also known as Tea Break.
Meal content: Black tea; Cookies
Common types of black tea: English breakfast tea; Assam black tea
4. Lunch With Tea
Tea drinking time: During lunch
Introduction: Since the breakfast of the upper class and the aristocrats are very rich, the lunch quantity is smaller. Thus, the type of black tea chosen is mostly black tea which pays more attention to the ratio of milk and black tea.
Meal content: Black tea; Sandwich
Common types of black tea: Darjeeling black tea; Irish breakfast tea
5. Middy Tea
Tea time: Around 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Introduction: This tea time is after lunch, usually on a weekday. The only snacks that accompany black tea are often cookies or biscuits, so it is also called "tea at three o'clock."
Contents of the meal: Black tea; Cookies; Biscuits
Common types of black tea: Darjeeling black tea; Earl Grey tea
6. Afternoon Tea
Tea time: 4:00 p.m.
Introduction: This is the afternoon tea time of the nobility, generally held at three to four o'clock on weekends. If it is a noble formal tea gathering, it is called a Tea Party.
Meal content: Lighter black tea; English muffin; Cake; Sandwich; Cookie
Common types of black tea: Earl Grey tea; Darjeeling black tea; Ceylon tea
7. High Tea
Tea time: Before dinner
Introduction: Due to the late start time, the meal includes not only the usual cookies, cakes, and sandwiches, but also more soup. This type of tea party also allows participants to eat only the meal without tea.
Meal content: Tea with clear and heavy black tea flavor; Meat cold plate, and other formal tea
The common type of black tea: Assam black tea
8. After-Dinner Tea
Time for Tea: After Dinner
Introduction: Tea time is a great opportunity for intimate conversations with family members, promoting emotional communication. To refresh and moisten the throat, the most common type of black tea used is usually black tea without milk.
Meal content: Black tea without milk, raisin pudding, toffee pudding, fruit crème brûlée.
Common types of black tea: Earl Grey without milk, Ceylon tea with lemon slices.
9. Bedtime Tea
Time for Tea: Usually around 10:00 or 11:00 pm
Introduction: Unlike modern times, Victorian bedtime tea was a luxury enjoyed only by the upper class, and was particularly suited to the aristocratic class who did not have to get up early to work the next day. The purpose of this tea was to calm the mind and relax, so the cream was often added to the black tea to enhance the flavor.
Meal content: A cup of hot black tea with whiskey, and a small selection of snacks.
The common type of black tea: is Keemun black tea.
