Tea Stories
Times for Tea November 10 2017
* Cream Tea - a simple tea consisting of scones, clotted cream, marmalade or lemon curd and tea.
* Low Tea/Afternoon Tea - an afternoon meal including sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, lemon curd, 2 - 3 sweets and tea. Known as "low tea" because guests were seated in low armchairs with low side tables on which to place their cups and saucers.
* Elevenses - morning tea or coffee time in England.
* Royale tea - A social tea served with champagne at the beginning or sherry at the end of the tea.
* High tea - High tea notates an idea of elegancy and reality, when in fact it was an evening meal, most often enjoyed around 6 p.m. as labourers and miners returned home. High tea consists of meat and potatoes as well as other foods and tea. It was not exclusively a working class meal, but was adopted by all social groups. Families with servants often took high tea on Sundays in order to allow the maids and butlers time to go to church and not to have to worry about cooking an evening meal for the family.
The Duchess of Bedford November 09 2017
The ceremony of afternoon tea was referred to by Jane Austen in an unfinished novel in 1804, hinting that the tradition was established by Anne, Duchess of Bedford. She requested that light sandwiches be brought to her in the late afternoon, when she would experience a "sinking feeling" during that time, because of the long gap between meals. She began to invite others to join her, and thus the tradition was born.Tea Gardens November 08 2017
During the 18th century, tea gardens became popular. The whole idea of the garden was for ladies and gentlemen to take their tea together outdoors, surrounded by entertainers. They attracted everybody, including Mozart and Handel. The tea gardens made tea all the more fashionable to drink, plus they were important places for men and women to meet freely.Queen Anne November 07 2017
Queen Anne drank tea so regularly that she substituted a large bell-shaped silver teapot for the tiny Chinese tea pots. The earliest formal tea set dates from her reign.Catharine De Braganza, wife of Charles II of England November 06 2017
In England, after her marriage, she invited her friends into her bedroom chamber to share tea with her. Tea was generally consumed within a lady's bedchamber and mainly for a gathering of females. The tea itself and the delicate pieces of porcelain for brewing and drinking it were displayed in the closet, and inventories for wealthy households during the 17th and 18th centuries list tea equip not in kitchens or dining rooms, but in these small private closets or boudoirs. In the 18th century, it was the custom for highborn ladies to receive callers with their morning tea while "abed and bare-breasted."Nice!Tea Etiquette November 05 2017
There are many ideas about tea etiquette and when tea first became popular in England. Charles II grew up in exile at The Hague, and thus was exposed to the custom of drinking tea. He married Catharine of Braganza, a Portuguese lady, who also enjoyed tea. Catharine had grown up drinking it, as it was the beverage of choice in her country at that time. It was said that when she arrived in England to marry Charles II, she brought with her a casket of tea. She became known as the tea-drinking Queen. England's first.
John Osborne October 18 2017
"In London, love and scandal are considered the best sweeteners of tea."Hillaire Belloc October 17 2017
"Is there no Latin word for Tea? Upon my soul, if I had know that I would have left the vulgar stuff alone."
Phyllis Battelle October 16 2017
"A reporter discovers, in the course of many years of interviewing celebrities, that most actors are more attractive behind a spotlight than over a spot of tea."Anthony Storr October 15 2017
"The professional must learn to be moved and touched emotionally, yet at the same time stand back objectively: I've seen a lot of damage done by tea and sympathy."William Faulkner October 14 2017
"The scattered tea goes with the leaves and every day a sunset dies."Josh Billings October 13 2017
"Old maids sweeten their tea with scandal."Henry Fielding October 12 2017
"Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."Sheena Easton October 12 2017
"I'd make tea for Joni Mitchell or clean her car, anything to be in the studio and watch her work."The late John Bonham October 11 2017
"I dare not drink before a gig because I'll get tired and blow it. So I have to sit drinking tea in a caravan."