The History of Tea: Where Tea Originated, Who Discovered It and How It Reached England and India
Tea originated in China, where people used the leaves of the tea plant for thousands of years, first as medicine and food and later as an everyday drink.
The History of Tea in England and Europe: Dutch Ships, London Coffee Houses and the British Cup
Tea reached Europe in the early 1600s, brought by Dutch traders, and arrived in England in the 1650s, where it was first sold in London coffee houses as an exotic medicine.
The History of Tea in India: Wild Assam Tea, the Singpho and the First Gardens
Tea grew wild in Assam long before the British arrived, and the Singpho people of Upper Assam brewed it from their own gardens.
Tea cultures are the ways different countries brew, serve and share the same plant: gongfu brewing in China, the tea ceremony in Japan, darye in Korea, chai in India, afternoon tea in Britain, the ...
East Asian Tea Ceremonies: Chinese Gongfu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Korean Darye
China has the oldest tea culture in the world, because tea was first drunk there, and Korea, Japan and Tibet all received tea from China.
Tea in Britain and Europe: Afternoon Tea, the Cuppa, French Salons de Thé and East Frisia
British tea culture runs from the first strong, milky mug of the morning to afternoon tea, a light meal of tea with sandwiches, scones and small cakes.
Samovars, Mint Tea and Butter Tea: How Russia, the Middle East, the Himalayas and Malaysia Drink Tea
A samovar, Russian for “self-boil,” keeps water hot all day beside a pot of very strong tea; Morocco drinks green tea with mint and sugar, Turkey strong black tea from stacked kettles; the Himalaya...
High Tea vs Afternoon Tea: What Is High Tea, What Is Afternoon Tea, and Where Cream Tea Fits In
Afternoon tea is a light, elegant snack of tea, small sandwiches, scones and cakes taken around four o’clock; high tea was a hearty evening meal that working families ate at the table around six.
Teas for Afternoon Tea and High Tea: What to Pour With Sandwiches, Scones and a Bacon Sarnie
Loose leaf is the traditional choice for afternoon tea. Our 2015 story is firm about it: “It’s the only authentic way to go about this.” Which leaf you choose depends on the food, so this guide tak...
How to Host Afternoon Tea: The Menu, the Table, the Manners and the Pot
Choose two or three teas, keep the food small, brew loose leaf in a warmed pot, and leave plenty of time for conversation.