English Afternoon Tea

If there is an English Breakfast tea, there is also an English Afternoon tea. This idea is common to all Englishmen. But to those who do not know the origin of the English Afternoon tea, enough information is provided by this article.

For the masses information, the introduction of the English afternoon tea dates back to the 1840s and the English afternoon tea actually evolved out of the rituals and routines of tea drinking that took place in Britain at that period of time.

However, the majority of the English people began drinking tea in the late 1650s and as the brewed beverage and the dry loose leaves were extremely unaffordable, the English afternoon tea emerged as the common drink of the royal families and the aristocracy. Aside from that the well-off gentlemen drank teas in several coffee houses in London and the aristocratic ladies bought very little amounts of loose tea leaf and then drank the brew at home with their friends and families.

It is as well noted for the English afternoon tea that the ships that burdened the English afternoon tea from China and Japan to Europe also brought in some of the English afternoon tea pots, tea bowls, and neat cute jars for the English afternoon tea storage. As such, those tea porcelains and accessories caught the attention of most of the rich families which then result to a massive storage of the English afternoon tea at home, mostly in the kitchen or dining room cupboards. With such introduction of the English afternoon tea, the English afternoon tea then became popular as it is offered as refreshment to the visitors.

So when did all this English afternoon tea drinking go on?

The English afternoon tea beverage then became one of the most popular customs of England, and it is noted that the English afternoon tea as it is offered for some refreshments is traditionally taken between 3 to 5 pm. It is as well noted that with the English afternoon tea naturally a cup of the English afternoon tea is mandatory. It is however stated that the ceremony on the English afternoon tea started when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, began to invite her friends for some tea refreshments. And following such event, many other people especially the growing middle class began to mimic the rich and found that the English afternoon tea was a very economical way of entertaining guests without having to exert some efforts and spend too much money.

So from then on, the English afternoon tea was coupled with small tea time treats such as crustless sandwiches like cucumber, smoked salmon, and egg mayonnaise and mustard cress sandwiches, hot buttered toast and scones, little pastries, and a cake or two were all expected and required for the English afternoon tea ceremony. Until now, the tradition on English afternoon tea continued and the English afternoon teas is recognized as the ideal way to entertain neighbors, friends, and even business acquaintances. It is amazingly noted that the English afternoon tea practices of today still enjoyed same elegant and cozy atmosphere that was experienced by the English the early days of the English afternoon tea drinking.