BEST OF BRITISHBEST OF BRITISHFrom their morning cuppa to their afternoon tea, Brits have a long history of making any excuse to have a brew.//images.ctfassets.net/e8bhhtr91vp3/65GcR0A26hLAeFQwUd6eFo/d45c3d791bba49d41ad2d6214b5865b8/image.png?w=800&q=80BEST OF BRITISHBEST OF BRITISH800800

ABOUT TEA

BEST OF BRITISH

World of Tea : History of British Tea (PAK/CANADA)

If there’s one nation that loves a good cup of tea, it’s the British. They’re as famous for tea as they are for cricket and the Royal Family. And from their morning cuppa to their afternoon tea, the Brits have a long history of making any excuse to have a brew.

TEA TIME 

Back in the 17th Century, the British were a nation of coffee drinkers. That was until King Charles II married Catherine de Braganza, a Portuguese princess who absolutely adored her tea.

Catherine introduced tea as a breakfast drink and it quickly became fashionable amongst members of court and soon spread through the wealthy classes all over the country. 

For the next few hundred years, tea remained an exclusive privilege of the wealthy upper classes until our very own Sir Thomas Lipton came along, made it affordable for everyone, and tea fast became the nation’s favourite drink. The rest, as they say, is history.

AFTERNOON TEA 

The idea of afternoon tea started with the Duchess of Bedford in the 1840s. Back in those days, it was usual for the British upper classes to have just two meals a day – breakfast in the morning and then dinner around 8pm. Getting a little hungry in the late afternoon, the Duchess found a light meal of cakes, sandwiches and a cup of tea would bridge the gap perfectly. 

She then began inviting friends to join her and the idea caught on. Before long, all of fashionable society was sipping tea and nibbling sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.

These are the classic elements of a traditional afternoon tea:

  • Finger sandwiches with fillings such as cucumber and smoked salmon, or egg and cress.

  • Scones paired with clotted cream and jam. These are best served warm.

  • Cakes – but keep them small and delicate as afternoon tea is meant to be a light meal.

HIGH TEA

High tea is the working-class equivalent of afternoon tea. Whilst the upper classes were enjoying a light meal between 3 and 4 o’clock, working men all over the country needed something a little more substantial following a hard day of manual labor. Often, this was a meal taken standing up or sitting on tall stools – hence the term ‘high tea’.

That’s also why high tea is more of a main meal, and the food served is usually hot and filling. Pies, meats and cheeses are classic high tea fare. 

Because of the hot, comforting food served, you’ll need a similar tea to wash it down. Lipton® Yellow Label® Black Tea, with milk and optional sweetener is the perfect partner. 

So whether you care to join the Duchess of Bedford in a spot of afternoon tea, or you prefer a hearty high tea to end your working day, we have a wide range of delicious teas to suit every occasion. Enjoy.  

Explore our delightful tea range