Afternoon tea culture in Britain

Tea frequently appears in English literary works, telling the lives and scenes of characters. Influenced by English afternoon tea culture, the remarkable and obvious feature of English writers is that they often praise China tea. Samuel johnson (1709 ~ 1784) was a leading figure in English literary circles in the18th century. He claimed that "enjoy the evening with tea, comfort the night with tea and greet the morning with tea". Typical stubborn tea drinker. "The literary club he founded was once popular with tea lovers. There is such a joke that a French diplomat has just arrived in a foreign country and was invited to have afternoon tea by a duchess. When he drank the first 14 cup, his abdominal distension was unbearable. He just begged his wife for mercy, but he couldn't add it anyway. It turns out that the French don't understand the rules of the British. After each "toast", he doesn't put a teaspoon in the cup to show that it's over. The duchess, who didn't know the details, just kept drinking tea. In fact, not only the French stomach can't stand it, but also the Duchess deeply regrets her precious tea.

The playwright Pineiro (1885- 1934) even praised the spiritual civilization of tea tasting: "Where tea is, it means where hope is." Others, such as poet Wordsworth and writer Dickens, all praise tea culture without exception. Many protagonists in Pride and Prejudice always hold a China tea party after supper. When the clock strikes four, everything in the world stops for tea. Britain and China are both big tea-drinking countries, and both have their own unique tea culture, which represents the different tea-drinking styles of the East and the West. The British, who have never planted a piece of tea in history, have created their own unique and gorgeous drinking form with imported products from China, and are famous for their "English afternoon tea" with rich connotations and elegant forms. Today, whether English black tea or vanilla tea is still raw fruit tea, people all over the world are interested in it. "English afternoon tea" has become a symbol of British elegant lifestyle. One day at four o'clock in the afternoon, I went to the university for business, only to find that the office door was closed and everyone was gone. Looking around, I found a small sign in the lower corner of the door, which read "tea time". At this time, even if you have something important, you have to wait for the English to finish their afternoon tea. This is a firm rule. An English folk song goes like this: "When the clock strikes four, everything in the world stops for tea."

At three or four o'clock in the afternoon, there are so many "tea time" in Britain every day that foreigners feel that one third of the British people's lives are spent on drinking tea. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I will enjoy a cup of "bedtime tea" by the bed; Have another cup of "breakfast tea" at breakfast; No matter how busy your business is in the morning, you should pause for 20 minutes to have a "tea break"; It is legal time to have tea and dessert before going to work in the afternoon; Go home and have another cup of "HighTea" before dinner (a formal tea with meat and cold dishes between 5 pm and 6 pm); There is "parting tea" before going to bed. It is true that every day begins with tea and ends with tea. The British meticulously repeat the routine of tea coming and tea going every day, and enjoy it. Besides, there are many tea parties, garden teas and weekend picnics in Britain, which are really colorful.

English afternoon tea, the founder of China tea, was 1662 Portuguese Princess Catherine who married King charles ii, and was called "the queen of tea drinking". At that time, her dowry included 22 1 kg black tea and exquisite China tea set. At that time, black tea was as precious as silver. The exemplary role of the elegant brewing and drinking of the new queen attracted the nobles to follow suit, and the fashion of tea tasting quickly became popular and became a symbol of the nobility. Since then, Mary Ⅱ and Queen Anne have also been keen on promoting tea culture. When China Tea Party was held, the palace specially arranged screens, China tea sets, silverware and mobile tea tables to improve the predecessors. However, the term "English afternoon tea" was formally invented in the 1940s of 19. At that time, those boring aristocratic ladies and gentlemen, after enjoying lunch every day, were worried about how to spend the long afternoon before dinner. A duchess named Anna had a brainwave and invented the afternoon tea plan, which was immediately welcomed by the upper class and followed suit. From then on, rich people with money and leisure have an elegant and formal name, and they get together every day to "gossip"; Ladies and gentlemen have an unmistakable opportunity and place to show their gorgeous clothes. However, English people drink tea in a completely different way from China people. China pays attention to a cup of green tea in his hand, and the fresh fragrance is that the breeze is drinking; The British are much more complicated. They want to add milk and sugar to their tea, with biscuits and desserts. English people are used to having dinner at eight or nine o'clock in the evening. Afternoon tea is just right, you can make up your stomach. Every time I invite an Englishman to drink tea, I insist on exaggerating China green tea without milk and sugar. The best enjoyment is to taste its original flavor. Many British people also readily accept this example. Of course, some stubborn and timid people changed their minds: "I still want English tea." English tea is black tea. So why does the green tea produced in China turn into black tea when it reaches foreigners? It is said that in ancient times, China green tea had to take a sea boat for more than one and a half years to reach Britain. Green tea is fermented automatically in the process of drifting at sea, and when it arrives in Britain, it becomes a thick black tea with just good taste.

China tea was once the treasure of the rich, and China tea was introduced to Britain in the17th century. Due to the high freight rate of this "oriental gadget" and the heavy tax imposed by the British government, the highest rate reached 19%, so only those who have money can afford tea. Since tea is so precious, drinking tea has become a status symbol. Being able to entertain guests with China tea has become the best form of boasting about wealth. At that time, ladies and gentlemen in England had a small key with gold-plated jade embedded in their waists to open a special tea box. Even the hostess presided over the tea party, fearing that the servants would steal tea. /kloc-In the second half of the 8th century, the British government finally reduced the tea tax to 12.5%, thus ending the history that tea was only enjoyed by the nobility and the rich. With the popularity of drinking China tea, China tea set has also become popular rapidly. Drinking China tea with China porcelain teapot and teacup is authentic. At that time, the porcelain produced in Britain imitated China in shape and design, but it was not as good as the China goods with spiritual craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation. It is said that tea cups will burst when you make tea with English tea sets. So it is necessary to pour some cold milk into the teacup before making tea with boiling water. In order to boast that they are using authentic China tea sets bought at a high price, rich people often deliberately pour boiling water directly into the teacups before pouring milk into the guests. Therefore, tea before milk is regarded as the rule of the rich. However, today's reality is distressing. If you go to the western shopping center, you will find that there is no sign of China porcelain in front of the counter of high-grade porcelain. Those dazzling, exquisite and amazing porcelains are all European products. For westerners, porcelain is not only a practical product for eating and drinking tea, but also an ornament and artwork placed in a cupboard for people to enjoy.

The British are as obsessed with tea as ever, and have some new coloratura. In winter, some British people are keen on "chicken tail tea", that is, pouring whiskey into hot tea. Many British people don't even forget to take a shower and lie in the bathtub to enjoy themselves. Britain is the largest tea consumer in the world, drinking 65.438+0.35 billion cups of tea every day, accounting for 65.438+0/4 of the total annual tea consumption in the world. Every year, Britain publishes a guide to the best teahouses in Britain, which specifically introduces famous and distinctive teahouses. Among them, the teahouse in hotel ritz, London is always among the best in terms of expensive and distinguished. This hotel was planned and managed by her boyfriend's father, who accompanied Princess Diana to visit the grave. Diana also frequented it before her death. To come here for afternoon tea, men must wear a tie to enter, and they must reserve seats in advance. At the busiest time, you can find a seat two weeks in advance. In fact, for many people, drinking tea and eating rare French snacks in Leeds is regarded as an unusual experience. At the moment, black tea, which is more prominent after the contrast of noble and charming atmosphere, has been integrated with gorgeous tea sets, noble halls, gorgeous men and women and well-trained bartenders, reflecting the dual enjoyment of material and spirit. "When the teapot was sent to the study, the room immediately filled with your inner fragrance. After a cup of tea was poured, the whole body and mind got a good comfort. Walking back in the drizzle, the warmth provided by a cup of hot tea is indescribable. "