This History of High Tea
Ahhh~ there aren't many things left that make you proud to be British nowadays - our TV is boring, our sporting abilities are terrible at best, our political system is a joke, the job market is failing miserably to the point that even a university graduate will have trouble finding work, and the social security system is the biggest game being played by millions of lazy underworking layabouts.
At least we have a health system though, and needn't spend exorbitant amounts on health insurance.
Oh, and then there's high tea.
Yes, high tea is certainly something we can still be thoroughly proud of it, at least.
How much does the average Tom on the streets of Britain really know about "high tea" though? Well that's why I'm here today.
To teach you all where the tradition of high tea came from.
Let us at least keep this beautiful piece of British culture with us as steam forward into the melting pot of 2011 UK society.
Let's start with High Tea, shall we? High Tea: For a start, it's a misnomer.
No one really calls it high tea, someone simply gave it that name because they thought it made it sound more regal and posh.
It's really called "afternoon tea", for the simple reason that it was taken in the late afternoon.
In fact, it was often called "low tea" because of the low tables in the sitting room or withdrawing room.
Consisting of either cream tea, a light tea, or a full tea depending on whether additional sweets and desserts were included or not, Afternoon Tea was served at either four or five o-clock, and no one stayed their welcome beyond seven.
In tea rooms, the menu changed from tea, bread, butter and cakes to include a large selection of savouries, such as tiny sandwiches or appetizers, scones with jam or clotted cream, and pastries such as cakes, cookies, shortbreads and other sweets.
Afternoon tea was probably started by the French, though, in the 17th century - first arriving in Paris is 1636 - a full 22 years before it was adopted in England.
Among the rumored fans of Afternoon tea were Monsieur de Landgrave, who it was assured drank 40 cups of tea every morning for good health.
It was also a french woman who began the practice of adding milk to tea, because it was "to her taste".
It wasn't until King Charles II returned with his new Portuguese wife that tea was given a place in English high society though.
As part of the dowry, Charles has been given trading rights in all of the Portuguese ports in Africa, Asia and the Americas, thus giving England their first direct tea trading routes.
Having grown up in the dutch capital, Charles was himself a confirmed tea drinker - and when the monarchy in Britain was re-established, the wealthier echelons of British society would copy anything the royals did - and hence the tradition of tea drinking was born.
Soon, tea became the beverage of national choice, replacing ale.
By the 18th century the industrial revolution had been set in full swing.
As working families would return home exhausted and tired, the table would be set with various metas, bread, cakes, cheese and of course tea.
Because they would eat a high dining table, rather than the low tables of the sitting room, it would be termed "high tea".
At least we have a health system though, and needn't spend exorbitant amounts on health insurance.
Oh, and then there's high tea.
Yes, high tea is certainly something we can still be thoroughly proud of it, at least.
How much does the average Tom on the streets of Britain really know about "high tea" though? Well that's why I'm here today.
To teach you all where the tradition of high tea came from.
Let us at least keep this beautiful piece of British culture with us as steam forward into the melting pot of 2011 UK society.
Let's start with High Tea, shall we? High Tea: For a start, it's a misnomer.
No one really calls it high tea, someone simply gave it that name because they thought it made it sound more regal and posh.
It's really called "afternoon tea", for the simple reason that it was taken in the late afternoon.
In fact, it was often called "low tea" because of the low tables in the sitting room or withdrawing room.
Consisting of either cream tea, a light tea, or a full tea depending on whether additional sweets and desserts were included or not, Afternoon Tea was served at either four or five o-clock, and no one stayed their welcome beyond seven.
In tea rooms, the menu changed from tea, bread, butter and cakes to include a large selection of savouries, such as tiny sandwiches or appetizers, scones with jam or clotted cream, and pastries such as cakes, cookies, shortbreads and other sweets.
Afternoon tea was probably started by the French, though, in the 17th century - first arriving in Paris is 1636 - a full 22 years before it was adopted in England.
Among the rumored fans of Afternoon tea were Monsieur de Landgrave, who it was assured drank 40 cups of tea every morning for good health.
It was also a french woman who began the practice of adding milk to tea, because it was "to her taste".
It wasn't until King Charles II returned with his new Portuguese wife that tea was given a place in English high society though.
As part of the dowry, Charles has been given trading rights in all of the Portuguese ports in Africa, Asia and the Americas, thus giving England their first direct tea trading routes.
Having grown up in the dutch capital, Charles was himself a confirmed tea drinker - and when the monarchy in Britain was re-established, the wealthier echelons of British society would copy anything the royals did - and hence the tradition of tea drinking was born.
Soon, tea became the beverage of national choice, replacing ale.
By the 18th century the industrial revolution had been set in full swing.
As working families would return home exhausted and tired, the table would be set with various metas, bread, cakes, cheese and of course tea.
Because they would eat a high dining table, rather than the low tables of the sitting room, it would be termed "high tea".
