Drinking Tea in England

After China, Great Britain is number two in the way of world-wide tea consumption. Though both China and the UK are very serious about their tea, there are immense differences between the two.

As a rule, the British drink black tea, and they almost never drink it unsweetened. Actually, it is customary to add milk to the tea, never cream, and often people will add white sugar to sweeten.

All that is needed to prepare tea in the United Kingdom is a tea kettle and a cup or mug, though for the more formal occasions, a cup and saucer is employed. The British seem to prefer white, bone china tea sets, and variations thereof, as opposed to the Yixing clay tea sets used in the Far East.

Cups and saucers are always used in formal occasions, and so are some rules. When at a formal tea-drinking occasion, remember to never hold your cup in mid-air, which is to say that your cup should be either on it’s way to or from your lips, or resting on your saucer. If you are drinking while standing, hold your saucer at waist level with your left hand and raise and lower the cup with your right. Don’t ever drink tea from your saucer!

When drinking tea in Great Britain, it is common to include scones and jams. Proper tea is more social than anything and you should always try to accept an offer to partake, should the situation arise. To refuse would be considered rude, and to accept would make the server feel happy and respected.

It is the British who are known for Bone China, the most expensive and sophisticated of tea sets. This particular type of china originated in England, when craftsman used actual ash from cattle bones to create this special kind of china. Also, it is common to see many bone china tea sets painted with a special enamel, often in various floral designs.

Learn more about proper tea. Stop by Diana Cruz’s site where you can find out all about english tea drinking customs.