Did you know that tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world (besides water)? Nope—I didn’t either. Even though I write novels set in tea-centric England, I confess I am a tea novice and drink more coffee than tea (shhh! :)). But I do enjoy drinking tea in comfortable solitude now and then, or at social gatherings. And lately I’ve been learning more about this quintessentially British beverage. 
At the national Jane Austen Society conference in October, I took a class about teas available in Jane Austen’s time (Bohea, Hyson, Gunpowder, etc.) and had the opportunity to mix my own blends, adding things like cinnamon, hibiscus, marigold, nettle, or rose petals to various black or green tea leaves.
After that, I learned even more at an afternoon tea I attended with a few friends and members of my local chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America. There, we were enlightened and entertained by British author and tea historian Jane Pettigrew (I even love her name) who gave a fascinating talk. She is the author of many books, including A Social History of Tea, which I bought that day. I could have listened to her for hours. If you are a tea lover, I recommend her books or hearing her speak if you have the chance.
Jane Pettigrew presenting. Author-friend Michelle Griep and I listening!
Recently, I’ve also been reading a book by Amy Boucher Pye, who grew up not far from where I live in Minnesota, but is now a London vicar’s wife. Her book is called Finding Myself in Britian. As a lover of all-things-British, I’m enjoying reading about the differences in cultures, traditions, vocabulary, etc. between Americans and 
Brits, and in particular, the chapter devoted to tea. If you are a fellow Anglophile, you’ll want to read Amy’s book for yourself.
So, from these three sources, here are some things I’ve learned about tea in no particular order. I found them interesting and thought you might, too.
British people mean different things when they say “tea,” referring to several different kinds of occasions:
High tea: It isn’t what you think it is. Traditionally speaking, high tea was a heavy, working class evening meal.
Afternoon tea: Tea and a small piece of cake around 4:00 or 5:00. The 7th Duchess of Bedford is often credited with originating the practice in the 1830s as an afternoon pick-me-up to tide her over until a late dinner.
Cream tea: A pot of tea, 2 scones, clotted cream & jam. (I had this in Devonshire last year. Yum!)
Builder’s tea: The tradition of workmen drinking sweet, hot tea on their breaks and expecting it to be offered to them if they’re working in your home.
Morning cuppa: The self-evident cup of tea to start your day.
In The Regency era and earlier, tea was most often served after the main meal, or as a special treat when guests visited, not at breakfast or every afternoon as it is now.
Tea caddy with lock and key.
Tea was originally enjoyed only by the wealthy. Imported from China and India, tea was heavily taxed, very expensive, and kept under lock and key until it would be brewed at table by the lady of the house. (By Jane Austen’s time, people in all classes began drinking tea.)
Tea was originally stored and served in special porcelain jars, pots, and cups that were imported from China along with the tea, which gave us our word “china,” meaning fine dishes.
Tea—along with the porcelain and silver used to serve it–was such a status symbol, that families often had their portrait painted while seated at a table with their tea sets.
All authentic tea comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. (We get different types of tea through various processing techniques.) Any other drinks made from infused herbs or other ingredients may be tasty, but they are not tea. 🙂
Green or Black, all teas naturally have about the same caffeine content. It is the processing and preparation (water temperature, etc.) that effects how much caffeine is in your cuppa.
There are six types of tea, with different levels of processing and oxidation: black, white, green, yellow, oolong, and dark.
Tea bags were invented not by a Brit, but by a New Yorker! From Amy’s book, “And like many innovations, it came about by mistake. Thomas Sullivan was a tea importer, and one day in the early 1900s he sent out samples of tea in
silk bags. Although he intended for his recipients to open the bag and remove the tea leaves, they threw the whole thing into the pot. The tea bag was born….”
Originally, tea bags were viewed with suspicion in Britain but gradually won over our tea-loving cousins across the pond and are now commonly used.
Don’t sadden a Brit by offering teabags and tepid water! Hot water (almost boiling) brings out the taste of the tea leaves. And since the tea needs to steep, it will still be comfortingly hot after a few minutes pass and it’s ready to drink.
And one final quote from Finding Myself in Britain: “Because many people in Britain associate tea with comfort, offering tea to someone becomes an act of hospitality…. [Don’t] underestimate the value of sharing tea with someone going through a difficult time.”
With my tea & bookclub friends.
Are you a tea drinker? Have you experienced the comfort and communion of sharing tea with a friend? Let’s all make a point of doing so soon.
Perhaps you would like some tea, as soon as it can be got.”
They both declared they should prefer it to anything.
—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
Latest posts by Julie Klassen (see all)
- Gifts for Readers…or You! - November 12, 2024
- Research Challenges & A New Release | Guest Post by Erica Vetsch - October 22, 2024
- Book News & Second Chances - October 8, 2024
Hi Julie, what a fun post! I love tea and learned some new things. Thanks! The tea party book club meeting is a great idea. : )
Great article Julie, thankyou.
Kisses upon your tea making hands!!
In 1986-7, I ran a tea and coffee bar in Vancouver. We had 176 different blends, and yes, I had my own blend.
I had a customer come in and tell us that he found tins (crate sized) of Lapsang Soochong his mother had brought home from Asia right before WW2. They opened one tin, yes, it was actual tin, and the tea was fresh!! That tea would have been over 45 years old.
And thank you for pointing out that beverages made from infused herbs and other ingrediants are NOT TEA.
Yes, I am a tea snob.
One who has 10 different kinds of Earl Grey in her cabinet.
Another great post, thank you Julie.
How do you make Earl Grey strong enough to enjoy? It always seems a bit dish-watery to me.
Try Stash. It’s much more full bodied than Twinings.
Thanks for the recommendation. Hadn’t heard of Stash before but will seek it out.
You’re welcome, Jennifer. That means a lot, coming from a tea snob! 😉
I loved your post, Julie. I read it while drinking my morning cup of tea. Yes, I’m a tea-lover. Steeped fresh in a warmed pot. No coffee for me, please.
Your post reminded me I left a cup of tea steeping downstairs! Which, now, is cold. 🙁
I don’t care for coffee, but I enjoy herbal tea, although I’m not at all anglophile. No real interest in how it’s “supposed” to be enjoyed. I just like it.
Hee hee. I do that all the time!
Fascinating! I learned a lot about tea from this post. It was especially fun to learn the meanings behind the names ‘cream tea’ and ‘high tea’, etc.
I, personally, prefer to pour boiling water over my tea bag, because I like both coffee and tea to be very hot. But I saw Kelli Standish at the ACFW conference (she’s such an avid tea drinker that she brought her own tea maker with her!) and she mentioned that it’s not good to heat the water to that degree. It scorches the tea leaves. ?
Hi Becky! From what I’ve heard, it’s not good to boil the water for herbal teas, but here in Britain if you serve tea (proper English breakfast or other types of black tea) not made with boiling water the recipient will sip it politely, but scream inside at the incompetence. My British husband instructed me on the making of tea – we were still courting so I was in that early stage of being happy to be instructed! 🙂
Great post! I love tea! The class you took sounds so interesting! Thanks!
I enjoyed reading your tea post while I sipped my morning cuppa. Love the background information. Thanks!
As a tea lover (and coffee hater), I really enjoyed this post! Special thanks for informing me about Amy Boucher Pye’s book; I added it to my TBR list.
Greatly enjoyed your post, Julie. Never bothered with brewed tea until I married an Englishman some 30 years ago. I make it for him and drink it often, following his careful instructions that include using a cosy. My UK family and friends as a matter of course will say, “I’ll put the kettle on.” Cream teas are my favorite. Tea parties for fund raising events and bridal showers are fun to attend as well. Looking forward to reading Amy’s book soon.
Thanks, Pat. Love that phrase, “I’ll put the kettle on.” Sounds so cheery and welcoming!
I love to drink tea.
I always carry a couple of tea bags in my purse in case of bug bites or abrasions. Wet it and place over hurt and press for a few seconds. It has antiseptic qualities that will alleviate the pain.
Interesting! Did not know that. Thanks!
I’m a tea drinker but I don’t use tea bags for my morning tea – loose tea in a tea pot makes the best tea.
I’ve had tea on most cool mornings since we visited England last year. It makes me smile every time I pull a tea bag out of that Harrod’s tin, and I even add some milk to remind me of Britain. They made a convert out of me. Loved this post!
Hi dear friend. You know, I don’t think I knew you were carrying on with the morning tea. Good for you!
Thank you for this post!! I loved everything about it because I’m an Anglophile myself and since the Brits enjoy drinking tea I have adopted the ritual with much satisfaction. I find it comforting, and when I have visiters tea is offered on every occasion. (I like the name Jane Pettigrew too!) Thank you for sharing this newfound tea knowledge with us. It put a smile on my face. ( :
Thanks, Laurie! My pleasure.
Enjoyed this post, Julie, and all the fascinating tea facts. 🙂
I really WISH I enjoyed hot tea, but only drink my tea iced and sweet (yep, I’m southern through and through, LOL). Now coffee is another story – – drink it warm 24/7.
Maybe I’ll give hot tea another try – – especially a kind with cinnamon or spice in it.
Amy’s book sounds delightful – – I’m going to look for it!
Hugs, Patti Jo
You and me both on the coffee, Patti Jo!
Thanks, everyone, for all the great comments. Sounds like Amy enjoyed them, and I know I did!
I love tea! Love both hot and iced sweet tea!