Everything stops for tea!

for Sadje’s What Do You See? photo prompt.

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mathilde.regular

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Let me read it to you!

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An English cream tea is the finest way to satisfy mid-afternoon hunger! A pot of tea, chunky sweet scones, strawberry jam and thick clotted cream. 

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Charles 11 and his Portuguese wife Catherine de Braganze introduced tea to Great Britain in the early 1600’s when they  started importing it on the trade route from India. 

In 1663 the poet Edmund Phoebus wrote an ode to tea which included the lines…

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The Muse’s friend, tea does our fancy aid,

Regress those vapours which the head invade,

And keep the palace of the soul serene,

Fit on her birthday to salute the Queen.

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By 1700 there were more than 500 tea houses in London alone.

Tea became very fashionable during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria’s lady in waiting, the Duchess of Bedford was charged with inviting afternoon guests for a stroll in palace garden after which they would enjoy tea. This upper class pursuit soon spread to all strata’s of society, and eating afternoon tea remains an important part of British life to this day. And long may it remain so! 

Here endeth my lecture! Coffee anyone?

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Image credit; Joni Ludlow @ Unsplash

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Everything Stops For Tea by the Pasadina Roof Orchestra!

 

28 thoughts on “Everything stops for tea!

  1. Maria Michaela's avatar Maria Michaela Sep 19, 2023 / 11:40

    I’ve always admired high tea or just simple afternoon tea. Although I like tea, coffee is still my love. I might have a cup of tea but I’d go for coffee after a few hours

    Liked by 1 person

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Sep 19, 2023 / 15:45

      Don’t tell anyone, but I can’t remenber the last time I had a cup of tea! I’m a coffee person whatever the time of day.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Natasha's avatar Natasha Sep 19, 2023 / 11:45

    Oh! Blimey what a tale this be. :))

    Always a joy to swing by, Keith.

    Like

  3. beth's avatar beth Sep 19, 2023 / 11:52

    I went for high tea while in Ireland and it was amazing

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Denise's avatar Denise Sep 19, 2023 / 12:25

    I’ve had high tea in Melbourne, Australia and Victoria, British Columbia. There used to be a few tea shops around here that had tea but I think they were taken over by Star. somebody or other, lol. Now, I shall go have my morning dose of caffeine, coffee. Too bad I don’t have any scones.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. ladysighs's avatar ladysighs Sep 19, 2023 / 13:11

    I enjoy a peanut butter sandwich and left over morning coffee round about 4 PM. The sandwich is usually finished by the time I walk from to kitchen to computer room.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin Sep 19, 2023 / 15:17

    Yes, I’ll have a spot of afternoon tea too. But coffee is my morning’s preference. Great information Keith. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Sadje's avatar Sadje Sep 19, 2023 / 16:34

    Thanks for the history lesson. I think it were the British that introduced us to tea too. It’s as much part of our daily life as yours. Thanks for joining in with this very informative post.
    And yes I’ll take a café latte. Thanks ☕️

    Liked by 1 person

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Sep 19, 2023 / 16:44

      I believe it was, and other countries too. Strange when you think that tea plants have never been grown commercially here!
      Espresso for me, and make it a double!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. messymimi's meanderings's avatar messymimi's meanderings Sep 19, 2023 / 21:14

    I do enjoy a cuppa. I also agree with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., who said, “The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Patricia's avatar Patricia Sep 20, 2023 / 03:37

    I don’t care much for coffee or a cup of tea. I am an iced tea drinker. And to be honest I am a coke-aholic.

    Liked by 1 person

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