English tea party etiquette

English people love afternoon tea, which is well known all over the world, but don't underestimate this short afternoon of eating snacks and chewing teeth. It can represent the most traditional British culture. In Lady Rose in Gubei New District, I first felt the elegant moment of this British fragrance. Music wafted gently through my ears, like a warm breeze, lightly stepping on the thick and soft carpet, enjoying the leisurely and noble atmosphere here. Looking at the elegant ladies and gentlemen around me, the waiter immediately brought out a set of cups with gold edges. Full of expectation, in a short time, three trays came from the top of a bright silver shelf, namely strawberry tower, cupcakes, English muffins and sandwiches from top to bottom. English afternoon tea full of aristocratic flavor is about to begin. ...

British life of "tea comes and tea goes"

Britain and China are both big tea-drinking countries, and both have their own unique tea culture, which also represents the different tea-drinking styles of the East and the West. What China people pay attention to is a cup of green tea in hand, a cool breeze and bright moon, and a fresh and fragrant breath; On the other hand, the British are much more complicated. They add milk and sugar to tea, as well as biscuits and desserts. Because English people are used to having dinner at eight or nine o'clock in the evening, this sweet afternoon tea can just fill their stomachs.

However, British people spend so much time drinking tea every day that outsiders often feel that they spend 1/3 of their life drinking tea. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I lean on the bed and enjoy a cup of "bedtime tea"; Have another cup of "breakfast tea" at breakfast; No matter how busy the business is in the morning, stop for 20 minutes and take a sip of "rest tea"; Afternoon, before going to work, is the legal time for tea and dessert; Go home and have another "formal tea" before dinner; There is "farewell tea" before going to bed. Really every day starts with tea and ends with tea. The British people meticulously repeat the daily routine of "tea comes and tea goes" and enjoy it. Besides, there are various tea parties, garden tea parties and picnic tea parties on weekends. "English afternoon tea" seems to have become a symbol of the elegant lifestyle of the British.

Upper-class tea time

There are many theories about the origin of English afternoon tea, but it always starts with the royal family.

It is said that the earliest person who started drinking afternoon tea should be Anna Bedford VII, an English countess who knew how to enjoy life at the beginning of the 9th century. Countess Bedford often feels hungry around 4 pm, because there is usually little lunch at that time, and dinner usually doesn't start until 8 pm, so the Countess will ask the maid to prepare a pot of black tea and some bread or snacks to satisfy her appetite. Bedford likes to enjoy the whole process of black tea and snacks, so he simply invites relatives and friends to taste it and chat at the same time. As a result, this leisurely and arrogant afternoon tea social life began to become popular in the upper class. Today, it has become an elegant and comfortable afternoon tea culture and an orthodox "English black tea culture", which is the origin of the so-called "Victorian afternoon tea".

At that time, the Netherlands and Britain began to develop black tea planting, making black tea from China and India an elegant drink in Britain, even representing fashion and popularity. Enjoy the leisure time of afternoon tea, listen to the pianist playing like flowing water, and get up and leave after the music is over. These are all parts of afternoon tea.

At first, drinking tea was only enjoyed at home with high-grade and elegant tea sets. Later, it gradually evolved into a social tea party to entertain friends, which led to various manners, but now the form has been simplified a lot. Although afternoon tea has been simplified now, three points, namely, the correct brewing method of tea, elegant tea decorations and rich tea, are regarded as the essentials of tea drinking and continue to be handed down.

Creating a complete Victorian atmosphere In the afternoon tea tradition of Victorian England, it is absolutely necessary to receive guests with the best room and the best porcelain in the room. First-class tea and exquisite snacks are the protagonists of afternoon tea, melodious classical music is the foil, plus relaxed mood and intimate friends, spend an elegant and leisurely afternoon. The most traditional time for afternoon tea is four o'clock.