A Brief Walkthrough of the British Tea Culture History

Tea in Britain has always been of social concern, as it was a Queen who began one of the most popular cultural marks Brits had carried to this day and age.

Initially, in England, drinking tea was a way to keep up with the Joneses. Or, more specifically, the Queen Catherine of Braganza, who married Charles II and for whom tea was her favorite beverage.

The privilege of Exotic Aromatic Herbs

Back then, the world's most exciting drink could have been coffee. But some Historians like Ellis, Coulton, and Mauger said: "tea was six to ten times more expensive than coffee."

It's no surprise that when she moved to England in 1662, carrying exotic aromatic herbs traded from Asia, it became a sensation in the court.

Especially considering the addition of sugar, a very luxurious commodity at the time.

Middle Classes Can Afford Tea

Our social conditions determine much of what we consume and our region's geography and commercial issues.

England's tea supply grew in the XVII, making tea more affordable than ever. This made tea the most popular drink amongst the British, as middle and lower-class folk could now afford it. 

England had already turned into a tea-drinking nation.

High Quality and the Exquisite Tea-Drinking Experience

Tea drinking as a tradition was, even in the distant past, all about the experience. 

But merchants did their thing.

Fast-forward to the XVIII century, and all Brits cared about was how exquisite someone's cuppa could be.

People praised tea as more valuable from a societal perspective, and many considered it a patriotic drink.

Along with a so-called "British respectability" and patriotism growth, tea drinking became a daily ritual amongst families, colleagues, and friends.

Everyone wanted to showcase their good taste and manners at tea time.

Tea Time as We Know It Today

In Victorian times, the Queen of England popularized her custom of drinking her tea with something sweet to calm down the mid-afternoon hunger. She accompanied her tea with cakes, cookies, and other sweet snacks. Which became a tradition, just like many of her ideas and customs.

First adopters were high society ladies, but it spread amongst all people.

100 Million Cups a Day

According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, Brits drink millions of tea cups daily.

It seems they do love their tea.

But they are also pretty picky on how they prepare it. So can you make a perfect cuppa, the British style?