There’s nothing extra quintessentially English than cup of tea. The truth is, together with bulldogs, bowler hats and purple phone packing containers, tea consuming has come to represent the very essence of the British expertise. When touring to London chances are you’ll need to indulge your self on this genteel ritual, listed below are a couple of ideas to make sure that you should have a memorable tea consuming expertise.

First a little bit of historical past in regards to the English Tea commerce:

Tea got here to Britain within the sixteenth century when Dutch retailers first imported this Asian beverage from China. The Chinese language had been consuming tea for hundreds of years (with restricted provides of unpolluted water, boiling it with fragrant leaves was a great way to make sure a secure and engaging drink).

By the seventeenth century, tea consuming was in style all through Europe and British entrepreneurs had been fast to capitalize on the development. The well-known Twinings firm established a warehouse in London in 1706 and remains to be in enterprise in the present day.

Twinings: London’s oldest Tea store

The distinctive clipper ships are a product of the British tea commerce. Constructed for pace, these crusing vessels would refill on Chinese language tea and race house to be the primary with the brand new harvest.

Probably the most well-known clipper of all, the Cutty Sark, has been preserved and might be visited in Greenwich simply east of London.

Fortnum and Mason is one other establishment which opened only a 12 months after Twinings, in 1707, promoting to the royal family and the native gentry. When in London, go to “Fortnums”, as they’re identified, and see the liveried store assistants.

The truth is, one in all London’s best-loved establishments additionally has it roots within the tea commerce. In 1834, Henry Charles Harrod opened a tea wholesaler within the East Finish. Right now Harrod’s in London’s Knightsbridge is likely one of the world’s most well-known malls.

The world’s style for tea made many males wealthy and helped set up Britain as a global business powerhouse. And, in fact, the place there’s cash to be made there’s cash to be taxed: it was Britain’s taxation of tea within the 1700’s that helped gas the American independence motion!

English tea occasions:

In Britain there are totally different tea consuming events related to totally different occasions of day.

As an illustration, elevenses is a morning tea similar to a espresso break. Low tea is a day meal which will embody sandwiches and scones (the identify originates from the behavior of having fun with the meal in low armchairs!) The well-known English cream tea might function scones and clotted cream, marmalade and lemon curd. Royale Tea is a social event that features champagne or sherry served earlier than the tea. Maybe probably the most well-known tea consuming event Excessive Tea. It began as a night meal for laborers and sometimes may embody meat and potatoes (actually extra of a dinner than tea). As of late, chances are you’ll take pleasure in Excessive Tea at two within the afternoon. It’s a pretty elaborate meal with cake, biscuits and pastries.

Tea etiquette:

Principally adopted throughout Victorian days, it nonetheless has its significance in some Etiquette and English Colleges and circles, listed below are a couple of mild hearted ideas.

London’s Ritz serves top-of-the-line London Afternoon tea

When sitting all the way down to tea, place your purse in your lap or behind you on the again of your chair. Unfold your serviette and place it in your lap (ought to it is advisable to depart the desk, place your serviette in your chair). Put sugar in your cup first, then a lemon slice if you want. Milk goes in after the tea is poured. Lemon and milk are by no means used collectively and cream is rarely added to tea. Don’t stir in a round movement – gently transfer the tea backwards and forwards together with your spoon. By no means depart your spoon in your teacup – depart it on the saucer behind the cup. Cut up scones horizontally together with your knife and add cream and lemon curds to you plate. Unfold the cream and curds in your scone earlier than every chunk.

It’s a false impression that well mannered tea drinkers lengthen their little fingers when holding a cup (though it’s a good follow to deal with meals with solely three fingers).

Having fun with tea in London

First bear in mind that no self-respecting tearoom will use tea luggage, all the time free leaves.

When in London chances are you’ll need to indulge within the custom of tea on the Ritz – the world well-known lodge that overlooks Inexperienced Park and Buckingham Palace within the distance. It gained recognition in English society within the early twentieth century as a spot the place women may take pleasure in a meal with out a chaperone. As of late the Ritz welcomes everyone. The tea sandwiches and truffles are world well-known!

Served within the spectacular Palm Court docket, Ritz Conventional Afternoon Tea gives a alternative of a number of forms of tea, finely lower sandwiches, freshly baked scones, jam and clotted cream and a spread of delicate pastries, mix to make for an unforgettable afternoon. Though there are 5 sittings day-after-day, reserving no less than twelve weeks prematurely is completely important, particularly for weekend bookings. There’s a formal gown code in its public areas. Ritz London

The English Tea Room of Brown’s Lodge in Albemarle Avenue, Mayfair serves a superb Afternoon tea. This high-quality, conventional lodge was based in 1837 by James Brown, butler to Lord Byron and his spouse, who was Girl Byron’s maid. Their lodge shortly turned a gathering place for the native the Aristocracy and in the present day is frequented by a large clientele carrying on the custom of having fun with English afternoon tea.

Interested in tea?

When in London go to the Bramah Museum of Tea and Espresso, 1 Maguire Avenue, Butler’s Wharf