Tea Time Traditions
I have lived in both Ireland and the UK, where I developed a love of black tea (I take mine with heavy cream, no sugar) and learned a bit about the traditions associated with it. This lens is a brief overview of those traditions and a look at the products I consume regularly (three times a day, actually!).
Enjoy!
Current Tea Traditions
The Irish, British and Scots seem to take tea every time you turn around. It's drunk strong in the morning, with or after lunch, in the early evening, with or after dinner, and after a night on the town.At different times it's drunk as a stimulant, a social drink, or even a treat when taken with scones heaped with butter, clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Types of Tea:
Tea is traditionally classified based on producing technique:
* White tea: Un-Wilted, unoxidized
* Yellow tea: Un-wilted,unoxidized but allowed to yellow
* Green tea: Wilted, unoxidized
* Oolong: Wilted, bruised, partially oxidized
* Black tea/Red tea: Wilted, crushed, fully oxidized
* Post-fermented tea: Green Tea that has been allowed to ferment/compost
A Cream Tea
"Cream tea" is tea served with scones laden with butter, heavy cream, and strawberry jam. It is decadent and delicious!
Summer Walks!
Scones
Scones with jam and...
Cream tea
Cakes
Tiago Enjoying Engli...
First Cream Tea in O...
Cream tea in Fylde
cream tea
5 go for cream tea
Beginnings of a Tradition
Britain began importing tea in the 1660s after the marriage of King Charles II to Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, who brought to the court the habit of drinking tea. That same year, Samuel Pepys records drinking "a china drink of which I had never drunk before". It is probable that early imports came via Amsterdam or sailors on eastern boats.
Regular trade began in Guangzhou (Canton).Trade was controlled by two monopolies: the Chinese Hongs (trading companies) and the British East India Company. The Hongs acquired tea from 'tea men' who had an elaborate supply chain into the mountain provinces where tea was grown.
Tea was just one of many products the East India Company brought back many products, but it was to prove one of the most successful. It was initially promoted as a medicinal beverage or tonic. By the end of the seventeenth century tea was only taken by a narrow part of society, the aristocratic elite, but by 1750 tea would be the national drink.
Regular trade began in Guangzhou (Canton).Trade was controlled by two monopolies: the Chinese Hongs (trading companies) and the British East India Company. The Hongs acquired tea from 'tea men' who had an elaborate supply chain into the mountain provinces where tea was grown.
Tea was just one of many products the East India Company brought back many products, but it was to prove one of the most successful. It was initially promoted as a medicinal beverage or tonic. By the end of the seventeenth century tea was only taken by a narrow part of society, the aristocratic elite, but by 1750 tea would be the national drink.
Traditional British Teas
Favorites from Twinings
Traditional black tea varieties:
More Unique Blends
Asian and fruit-flavored teas are among my personal favorites!
Blends from Revolution
This is another of my favorite tea~makers.
Celestial Seasonings Selections
Tea as Photographic Art
bizi + mano
bizi + mano
Teas for tasty weeke...
Kiwi Kiwi Kiwi
"Hatsukoi"...
Taste of "Asia&...
Decor - Sungs Kitche...
菊花枸杞子茶 C...
marmaris tea house
morning sun tea
Tea Accessories Auctions
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Links to Online Tea Resources
- Tea Wiki
- The expansive wikipedia article on tea, which contains botanical as well as historical information.
- Tea Talk
- Website devoted to tea around the world.
- Twinings Tea
- Homepage of this producer and supplier.
- Celestial Seasonings
- Celestial Seasonings homepage
- TAZO
- TAZO Tea home
- The Republic of Tea
- Republic of Tea home
- Revolution Tea
- Revolution Tea home
- Ahmad Tea
- Ahmad of London Tea home
- Whittard of Chelsea
- Whittard Tea home
