Even though Chinese are the ones who started using tea first, when we think about teas, English tea is the first to come to mind. English tea is served in the mid- afternoon, between 3 p. m. and 5 p. m. with light snacks like toasts, scones, cakes and sandwiches. It is usually served as black tea in a tea- pot with milk and sugar served separately.
English tea is an elaborate process and they insist that a proper cup of tea just has to be prepared in a particular way. First the water is boiled in the kettle. A little boiling water is added to the teapot to warm it, swirled and then thrown out. Loose tea leaves or tea bags are added to the pot and the kettle is allowed to boil again. The boiling water is then added to the pot containing the tea leaves and then allowed to brew for some time. According to the English for a proper brew, it should be steeped for 5 minutes.
After the tea is brewed, black tea is poured through the strainer into the cup and served to the guests, who then add milk and sugar to suit their taste. Also, Englishmen insist that adding the milk first will make a difference in the taste. So milked is added to the cup first and it is then topped off with the tea. Once people take their tea, more hot water can be added to the same pot to prepare a second cup. Once the water is added, the tea cozy is placed on top of the tea pot to keep it warm.
An Englishman also made iced tea, which is very popular in summer, in 1904 during a heat wave. High tea is an evening meal, which combines afternoon tea and the evening meal. It is taken between 5 p. m. and 6 p. m. This term is nowadays used in formal occasions where it is an elaborate affair where tea is served with cold meats, fish, egg, sandwiches, cakes, etc.
The tradition started with Duchess of Bedford as she started having tea in the afternoon and also started inviting guests over. It became more popular in the second half of the Victorian period. This tradition then spread to even the working class as they had tea in the evening as the dinner wouldn't be served until 8 and they would be tired and hungry after work.
The English tea when prepared according to the proper method tastes the same and has the same wonderful flavor no matter where it is served. And the very fact that there are rules that have to be followed makes it all the more interesting. Traditionally there was a conflict whether milk should be added before it is served or after. The lower class preferred milk with the tea whereas the middle and the upper class preferred the milk to be served separately. According to traditional English tea practices, delicate bone china should be used if possible.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
Shop for Loose Tea, Teapots, and Accessories in our Loose Tea Shop
Even though Chinese are the ones who started using tea first, when we think about teas, English tea is the first to come to mind. English tea is served in the mid- afternoon, between 3 p. m. and 5 p. m. with light snacks like toasts, scones, cakes and sandwiches. It is usually served as black tea in a tea- pot with milk and sugar served separately.
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