Liceul Teoretic “Grigore Moisil”

Lucrare de atestat la limba engleza

“Tea in England – A tradition with Style”

Profesor cordonator Elev

Perju Iulia Chirita Andreea Mihaela

Clasa a XII –a F

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ………………..……………………………………….………………… page 3

History ……………………………………………………………………………..…. page 4

Evolution in Time ………………………………………………………….……….... page 6

The Proper Way to Serve Tea ……………………………………………………..…. page 7

The Table ……………………………...……………………..…… page 7

The Pot …………......…………………………………………...… page 8

Preparing Tea ………………………………...………………...…. page 8

Types of Tea…………………………………..……………...……. page 9

Pouring Tea ………………………………………………………. page 10

Goodies ………………….……………………………………….. page 10

Benefits of Tea …………………………………………………………………..……….. page 11

Sayings about Tea ……………………………………………………………….……….. page 13

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………..…… page 15

Bibliography …………………….………………………………………………..……… page 17

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Introduction

Tea is so much a part of everyday life in Britain that we might not ever stop wondering

about how a unique plant from faraway China became the nation’s favourite drink.

The reason I have chosen to take into discussion this topic is to show how important is,

nowadays, to have a national tradition which represents a break from one’s daily routine. Apart

from this, tea brings together both healthy properties and social opportunities.

It represents the second most consumed beverage in the world, playing second fiddle only

to water. It is almost in every culture, and literally there are thousands of varieties. But, despite

all, it is often thought of as being a quintessentially British drink even though it has a history

only of 350 years in this country.

There are four main types of tea- white, green, oolong, and black- ll born from the same

species of plant. Common health facts about tea show us that it is rich in antioxidants, can shield

our immune systems, stop infection, and even help us lose some pounds!

Tea is a beverage that is enjoyed in the morning, afternoon or evening, either feeling ill or

good, and can be consumed hot or cold.

But what exactly is tea? How has it become so popular? And what is the best way to enjoy

it? Let's find out...

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History

The beginning of tea is placed in Ancient China where there are various legends

surrounding the origins of this product. Perhaps the most famous is the Chinese story of Shen

Nung, the emperor and renowned herbalist, who was boiling his drinking water when leafs from

a nearby tea shrub blew into the cauldron. He tasted the resulting brew, and so the beverage of

tea was born.

Another legend claims that tea drinking is linked to the Indian prince Bodhidharma, who

converted to Buddhism in the sixth century and went to China to spread the word. He believed

that is necessary to stay awake constantly for meditation and prayer and so he chewed leaves

from the tea shrub, which acted as a stimulant, to help him stay awake.

Despite all the stories, tea was certainly known as a beverage in the time of Confucius

(c.551-479 BC) and grew in popularity during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). By the time

of the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) tea was the national drink of China, spreading from court

circles to be popular throughout Chinese society. It was during this time that the practice

developed of sending finest teas to the emperor's court as a tribute to him.

Then, after decades of years, tea drinking became gradually popular outside religious

circles and a Tea Ceremony became the expression of social sophistication and elegance.

Although it is not so rigid and strict as in the past, the ceremony is still used in Japan and China

as an emphasis on harmony, respect, purity and calm.

In the United Kingdom everything began after 1600 with the British East India Company

which imported goods from outside Europe and the sailors of these ships were likely to bring

home tea as gifts. But the first dated reference to tea in this country is from an advert in a

London newspaper, Mercurius Politicus, from September 1658. It announced that 'China Drink,

called by the Chinese, Tcha, by other Nations Tay alias Tee ' was on sale at a coffee house in

Sweeting's Rents in the City. The first coffee house had been established in London in 1652, and

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the terms of this advert suggest that tea was still somewhat unfamiliar to most readers, so it is

fair to assume that the drink was still something of a curiosity.

It was the marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza that would prove to be a

turning point in the history of tea in Britain. She was a Portuguese princess, and a tea addict, and

it was her love of the drink that established tea as a fashionable beverage first at court, and then

among the wealthy classes as a whole. Capitalising on this, the East India Company began to

import tea into Britain, its first order being placed in 1664.

By the eighteenth century many British wanted to drink tea but could not afford the high

prices, and their enthusiasm for the drink was matched by the enthusiasm of criminal gangs to

smuggle it in. What began as a small time illegal trade, selling a few pounds of tea to personal

contacts, developed by the late eighteenth century into an astonishing organised crime network.

What was worse for the drinkers was that taxation also encouraged the adulteration of tea,

particularly of smuggled tea which was not quality controlled through customs and excise.

Leaves from other plants, or leaves which had already been brewed and then dried, were added

to tea leaves. Sometimes the resulting colour was not convincing enough, so anything from

sheep's dung to poisonous copper carbonate was added to make it look more like tea.

In support of these facts there comes the book named: “For All the Tea in China: How

England Stole the World’s Favourite Drink and Changed History” written by Sarah Rose.

She states that every time we pour a cup of tea, we are pouring a cup of espionage. Why so?

Because the tea was stolen. Before 1848 all the tea in the world came from China. No other

country knew how to grow it, manufacture it, bake it, process it and turn it into a drink. And, by

that time, England was already addicted to tea. So, they decided to steal the plant from China.

But the rules in this ancient country were very strict and no one was allowed in or out as they

wished and as a result a secret British agent was sent. His name was Robert Fortune and his

mission was to steal seeds, equipment and the recipe from the Chinese tea makers and ship them

all to India, which was a British colony. That changed the course of history, everyone was able to

afford it and became firmly established as part of the British way of life.

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Evolution in Time

The most well-known British tradition is the afternoon tea. It is not known for sure

when exactly began because routines varied between cities, classes and each other daily

activities. But it was somewhere between 1830s and early 1840s that drinking tea in the

afternoon became a new social event.

Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3pn and 5 pm. Traditionally, loose

tea is brewed in a teapot and served in teacups with milk and sugar. This is accompanied by

sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries. The food is often served on a tiered stand.

Nowadays, this formal tea is usually taken as a treat in a hotel, café or a tea shop. In

everyday life, many British take a much simpler break consisting of tea and biscuits at teatime.

However, changes in social customs and working hours has caused that most British rarely take

afternoon tea, if at all.

Another traditional custom is the high tea. Also known as meat tea, it is typically eaten

between 5pm and 6pm and it can substitute for both afternoon tea and the evening meal.

High tea usually consists of cold meats, egg or fish, cakes and sandwiches. On farms or

another working class environment, high tea would be the traditional, substantial meal eaten by

the workers immediately after nightfall. In recent years, high tea has become a term for elaborate

afternoon tea, though this is an American usage and mainly unrecognised in Britain. Nowadays,

it has been largely replaced by a later evening meal.

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The Proper Way to Serve Tea

Learning from a specialised site how to properly serve tea I have decided to eliminate

all doubts and describe how everything should be done from arranging the table until preparing

the tea itself.

For the British, tea and the art of serving it properly has always been of utmost

importance. For those in other countries, however, tea has been merely a drink that you make in

any old mug courtesy of a pre-measured tea bag that tastes especially good when you have a cold

or the flu or when you’re in need of a warm beverage to lessen the chill of a cold winter’s night.

Too bad! A good cup of tea is a real treat. As a matter of fact, more and more

individuals outside of Britain and its colonies are discovering its great taste. Coffee shops,

popular in America, are adding more and varied teas to their menu, allowing uneducated tea

drinkers to learn the ins and outs of proper good-tasting tea. Tea shops are also springing up in

many countries, offering fine imported teas of many flavours.

If you are a fan of this fine beverage and you would like to serve tea in a proper

manner, the process is simple once you have got all the required pieces in place.

The Table

The proper setting for your English tea can be nearly as important as the tea itself. Get

ready to enjoy the tea by setting a pretty table that your guests can enjoy. Include china cups and

saucers if possible, a dainty linen table cover, matching napkins, and perhaps a floral centrepiece.

If you are serving food with your tea, be sure to provide the appropriate size plates.

There is no problem to mix and match if you do not have enough tea cups of the same pattern.

As a matter of fact, it adds a little extra whimsy.

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The Pot

A proper English tea always comes from a pot, brought to the table on a tray along with

sugar, a sugar holder, a milk pitcher, tongs for sugar cubes, a napkin, a spoon, a saucer,

and – of course - a cup. (Some of those items can already be on the table, if desired.)

When the process begins, the teapot should be warm – never cold or at room temperature.

This allows for the tea to stay hot longer. It is best to warm the teapot in the oven, on the

stove over low heat, or by placing it in a tub of boiling water. Invest in a “tea cosy” that wraps

around the pot, which will also keep the water hot for a longer period of time.

Preparing Tea

“Real” British tea is made with loose tea leaves, but if you are concerned about having

the leaves appear in your cup, you may use a filter or diffuser. If you are using leaves, put a

teaspoon of tea per cup in your warm teapot. Fill it with freshly boiled water (never boil water

twice), stir slightly, and allow it to “steep” or sit for between 2 and 5 minutes, depending on the

strength you seek. Stir it again before you serve. You may wish to add milk and/or sugar before

you serve (the British way!) or allow your guests to add it as they wish.

If you find that the tea is not the taste you were seeking, you can make a few changes.

First of all, try using less tea per cup. The tea one is using may be particularly strong and not

require as much to make a good cup (or cuppa, as the British say). You might also want to switch

the type of tea you are using. Ask your local tea expert what teas might be more suited to your

taste or try some of the most popular British teas, which include Darjeeling, Earl Grey, English

Rose, Orange Pekoe, and Imperial Gunpowder. All are decidedly different so it might be prudent

to take a taste test before you buy.

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Types of Tea

There are all different types of tea for all different uses.  Some teas work wonders on

various health ailments, while others do a good job of calming the mind or soothing the spirit. 

Tea is the dried leaves of the plant camellia sinensis. 

There are three major different types of tea.  Chinese tea comes from small leaves.  This

variety of the tea plant grows very well in higher altitudes.  Indian tea comes from a plant that

has larger leaves and grows well at lower altitude.  The largest category of tea is the hybrid

category.  It’s a mix between the Chinese and Indian types of tea.

And then, there are also four ways to process the tea and each of them delivers even more

types of tea.

Black tea is the most common type of tea.  Processing tea leaves to make black tea

involves completely oxidizing the leaves.  This means that the leaves are allowed to completely

dry out, sometimes taking as long as an entire day to complete the drying out process.  Black tea

leaves are then rolled up and cracked.  They are left until the oxidation process is complete and

the tea is completely dried out. 

The second most common type of tea is Green tea.  There is no oxidation involved in

processing this type of tea.  The process starts out similar to the process of making black tea, by

laying out the leaves so all the water dries out from them.  Then the tea leaves are steamed to

prevent the oxidation process from beginning.  After they’re steamed, then the leaves are rolled

up tightly and dried once again.

The third most common type of tea is Oolong tea.  This is the most difficult of all the

different types of tea to make.  The process of making Oolong tea also starts by drying out the

leaves for a day.  Then the leaves are tossed into a bin or basket and purposely bruised along the

edges, allowing for only a partial oxidation.  After the leaves are partially oxidized, then they are

steamed to prevent further oxidation and rolled up for a final drying.

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The least common type of tea is White tea.  The process of making this type of tea begins

with the tea buds themselves.  The buds are picked before they’re completely open.  They are

then dried out quickly and not allowed to oxidize at all.  White tea is the most expensive type of

tea, and experts tout it as being the most healthful also.  This is because they believe white tea

has three times more antioxidants than green or black tea.  Researchers have also discovered that

white tea does a great job of collecting all the free radicals that can wreak havoc on the skin,

causing wrinkles, sagging skin, and a general appearance of age.

Pouring Tea

To avoid having the tea spill from the top of the pot, always place one hand on the lid so

it does not slip. Pour slowly to avoid over-pouring. If you wish (or if your guest prefers), you

may use a strainer so that tea leaves do not gather in the cup.

When everyone is seated and served, it is time to enjoy your tea!

Goodies

A proper tea, especially an afternoon tea, is served with small treats including cookies, tiny

cakes, scones, or even small sandwiches and other finger food.

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Benefits of Tea

Tea is known as nature’s 'wonder drug'. Of late, tea and its healthy benefits have been

receiving wide attention in the media. The ability of tea to promote good health has long been

believed in many countries, especially Japan, China, India, and not least, England.

The buzz about tea and its benefits is getting louder and is simply becoming too difficult to

be ignored. Enlightened tea drinkers are rediscovering the protective and revitalizing benefits of

this ancient drink. Ever wonder why the Chinese and Japanese have some of the longest life-

expectancy rates in the world. Shhh…here’s the secret: they drink tea a lot!!!

Numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant polyphenols.

Apart from polyphenols, tea also contains a variety of ingredients that are beneficial to one's

health. These include theanine (an amino acid unique to tea), vitamins, minerals, and

methylxanthines. These are the components that are the source of the healthful properties of tea.

Some studies have suggested that tea's polyphenols may reduce the risk of gastric,

oesophageal and skin cancers, if one consumes 4 to 6 cups daily. Another study showed that just

2 cups of tea may lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 46 percent in women. Other studies have

found that polyphenols help prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol levels. One Japanese

study found that green tea lowers death rates from heart disease.

Tea is a great natural source of fluoride, which is added to water and toothpaste

because it can actually strengthen tooth enamel. Tea can also help to cut down the build up of

plaque on your pearly whites and apart from the fluoride in water, the tea plant is in itself a rich

source of fluoride since it actually absorbs the compound from the soil via its roots.

It is used to treat multiple sclerosis.

It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer.

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It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation.

It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of

thrombosis.

It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer.

Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of

cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases

It is used to treat impaired immune function.

Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay

by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque. .

In conclusion, by only drinking 2-4 cups a day of tea, you can reap in the numerous curative

and preventive tea benefits and live a happy, healthy life.

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Sayings about Tea

As Bernard-Paul Heroux used to say “There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot

be much diminished by a nice cup of tea”, as well as I think that all the problems can be solved

just by having a moment of relaxation. What is more, believing that something can help you, you

will definitely start to have more confidence in your strength.

“If you are cold, tea will warm you.  If you are too heated, it will cool you.  If you are

depressed, it will cheer you up.  If you are excited, it will calm you” from Wiliam Ewart

Gladstone, a British statesman, is another true, experienced fact. Tea has so many properties that

can be thought of as being given to us by the gods. Dating from 1865, this quotation represents

the best way to describe the famous beverage.

“Tea is a cup of life”. This statement, written by an unknown author, shows the

complexity of the tea taste. It can be sweet or bitter just like in real life. You can enjoy the smell

or hate it and drink it solely for the reason of keeping or gaining your health.

“Another novelty is the tea-party, an extraordinary meal in that, being offered to persons

that have already dined well, it supposes neither appetite nor thirst, and has no object but

distraction, no basis but delicate enjoyment” written by Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin in the

book “The Psychology of Taste” shows the simple things that are needed for enjoying the

ceremony of tea. When you do something without any purpose, or without gaining anything in

return, you realise that what you do is done with pleasure and nothing can replace that unique

moment of your life.

Another way of seeing tea is this quote of Jerome K. Jerome in “Three Men in a Boat’:

“It is very strange, this domination of our intellect by our digestive organs.  We cannot work, we

cannot think, unless our stomach wills so.  It dictates to us our emotions, our passions.  After

eggs and bacon it says, "Work!"  After beefsteak and porter, it says, "Sleep!"  After a cup of tea

(two spoonfuls for each cup, and don't let it stand for more than three minutes), it says to the

brain, "Now rise, and show your strength.  Be eloquent, and deep, and tender; see, with a clear

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eye, into Nature, and into life:  spread your white wings of quivering thought, and soar, a god-

like spirit, over the whirling world beneath you, up through long lanes of flaming stars to the

gates of eternity!” Tea is perceived as an elixir that can reach your soul and give it all that is

necessary to work well. Tea can make us be good, kind, and dream of a perfect life where

anything is possible.

As good things have been said about tea, as well superstitions have been told from

generation to generation in order for people to fear the power of this drink.

For example:

If tea is made a little weaker than normal could signal a loss of a friendship coming.

Leaving the lid off the teapot accidentally shows you may receive bad news from a

stranger.

Emptying a teapot on a day that fishing will take place will ensure bad fishing results.

Placing the milk in your tea before sugar can show a crossing of the path to love, but a

chance of never marrying.

No matter how you receive and value the gift of tea, it is a proven fact that it has helped our

past generations possibly without even knowing it. The nature is our best friend and we should,

not only take advantage of it, but also protect it from destruction.

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Conclusions

In conclusion, tea is a complex beverage drunk by people since ancient China. Although

everything has changed, the people, the environment, tea has remained the same healthy product

of all times. Traditional or not, changed into a meal or simply drunk, people enjoy it every day,

every time and everywhere they can.

In my opinion, tea should be drunk by everyone at any age and parents should teach their

children how important is to keep the tradition of England alive. Nowadays, modern trends tend

to erase gradually almost everything that we were used to know as being a part of who we are.

The national identity is in each and every person and it is up to us to make it recognisable for the

entire world.

Children are the most exposed to novelty and consequently they are the main target of

manipulation through denial. Education should start at an early age by seeing the role model of

the parents. Kids imitate what they see in their environment and a happy, united family which is

in a strong relation with the traditions and the nature will definitely influence the young ones in a

positive way. Later in life everyone will know where they belong to and what makes them feel

accomplished.

Taking part at the daily routine of one’s family is another important thing. Not only one will

feel more bonded with one’s relatives, but one will also sense the beauty of preparing tea as if an

important event that helps us get rid of all our problems.

But why is the tradition of tea so important?

Let’s just think of our ancestors. They have risked their life to steal the tea from the Chinese

and to give the nation the freedom to drink it as much as all wanted to. And we are now

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somehow forgetting this. For who we are, for all we have learned is good, for the maintenance of

our traditions, for us and for the others, we must wake up and fight for our national identity.

Dealing with this subject helped me realise that this is only a part of history that all people

should have in mind when they are meeting for a cup of tea. If this tradition disappeared, we

would represent nothing special and we would melt in the ocean of modernity, as ordinary as

everyone.

I have learned how many healthy properties tea has, how calming, simple and complex at the

same time it can be. Discovered by mistake, now everyone, without any mistake, drinks tea.

Natural products are our best friend and we should take this into consideration more often.

Personally, I started to drink much more tea and I am glad that I know interesting things

about this custom. One never knows when one could use all the information acquired!

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Bibliography

www.tea.co.uk

www.the-color-of-tea.com

www.professorshouse.com

http://en.wikipedia.org

www.foodtimeline.org

www.quotegarden.com

The dictionary “Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary”

Word Power Dictionary from Reader’s Digest

“For all the tea in China: How England stole the world’s favourite drink and changed

history” written by Sarah Rose, published by Viking Adult, year 2008, England

“Avantaje” Magazine, April 2010

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