The culture of drinking tea is highly developed in Asia, Middle East and Europe, especially in England. Tea was adopted in England in the mid 1600’s. For 200 years tea was just for the upper class, because it was hard to get and expensive. Once tea became accessible and popular in the coffee houses everybody started drinking tea.
The afternoon tea tradition – or so-called five-o’clock tea – came from the Royal Family. In 1800’s most people ate two meals per day: late breakfast and dinner. Afternoon tea with sandwiches and biscuits became an indispensable snack and an excuse for a short break while chatting with friends. This tradition is still a stronghold of English culture.
Between coffee and tea, I am a total tea-person. Tea always gives me a homelike feeling, a special cosines in its warmth and aroma. I can never get enough of it. It has to be very hot. I like Earl Grey, jasmin, vanilla, wild berries… but most of all I love herbal home tea. Each year my mom dries herbs and we can drink home tea throughout the year. I also like my tea to be as simple as possible, without any additives, especially sugar. When I was younger I put sugar everywhere. But few year ago me and my mom decided not to eat sugar for 50 days and since then I preffer my tea without sugar.
The one thing I don’t like in tea is milk. I don’t like the milky flavour. When I’m drinking black or green tea I like to leave it in the hot water for a time lot shorter than the usual 2-5 minutes. 30 seconds to a minute fits me best, because the flavour and the after taste is not to strong.
For me it can’t get better than hot peppermint or camomile tea in a beautiful cup. Why not give yourself a treat today with a hot cup of tea and some biscuits to accompany the whole event? Be it at 5, sooner or later. The time doesn’t really matter. All it matters is taking it.
Photos were taken at a lovely place called Fika on Brick Lane in London while enjoying an afternoon tea with Kladdkaka, a sticky chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.
Blouse from H&M