ONE LUMP OR
TWO
Contents
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Introduction
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Afternoon Tea The origins and evolution of the traditional British ceremony of Afternoon Tea.
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Tea Rooms How Tea Rooms became so popular and widespread across the country and the British Tea Room in todays society.
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Tea Rations How the tea trade and consumption was affected by World War II.
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Tea Diaries A collection of thoughts on Tea and places it can be found.
Tea Breaks The British concept of a ‘tea break’ and its legal implications.
Tea
British people across the nation consume around 200,000,000 cups of tea a day and import 144 thousand tones of tea a year. Surveys have even found that on average we prefer a cup of tea to an alcoholic beverage. But what is it that makes us such a tea loving nation? This book explores the massive role played by tea in the everyday lives of people across Britain. In times of stress, of happiness and celebration, of sadness, boredom or procrastination, there is possibly no situation where a cup of tea is not appropriate. 07
– George Orwell 08
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Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea was first introduced to Britain in 1840. Anna, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford, often become hungry at around four in the afternoon, several hours before dinner was served. To overcome this feeling of hunger, the Duchess requested a that a tray of tea, bread and butter, sandwiches and cakes be brought secretly to her room. She feared when her secret habit was exposed she would be ridiculed, but instead the idea caught on and proved popular. The Duchess soon began inviting friends to join her, the ritual evolved over time into a formal affair and eventually into afternoon tea as we know it today. Women in particular were first introduced to tea on a wide scale when ‘Lyons’ tea
house opened in 1894. Not only did the tea house serve women tea, but also employed stylish young women to serve it. This provided a place for women to go and visit one another in an acceptable atmosphere, when accompanied by a male escort of course. Women were also served tea in the London Tea Gardens, outdoor spaces with flowered walks and music for dancing. They were open from April throughout the summer until August or September. Tea was not the only beverage served at these dances, but was indeed the one most commonly drunk. Unlike the Lyons tea houses, tea gardens were not public spaces, people had to pay to get in, and the working class were not admitted. 10
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“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea...the situation is in itself delightful.” – Henry James 13
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Tea Rooms
A tearoom is a small room or restaurant in which beverages and light meals are served. In such places, you may expect to receive tea served from a china set. Often tea rooms offer a various selection of cakes or sandwiches, and most commonly Cream Tea, which consists of a scone, clotted cream and jam. The first known tea room was opened by Thomas Twining in 1706 at Strand in London, where tea is still sold today. The premises has become a very popular tourist attraction and people come from all over the world to visit and purchase Twinings tea bags and leaves of all varieties. At the time when Twining opened his
fine hotels in both America and Britain offering a tea service in tea rooms and tea courts. In the 1920s, especially, tea rooms became the fashionable places for women to meet friends in small towns, big cities, and suburbs alike. Tea rooms had become established catering for all classes of British society and were widespread by the 1950’s. However, the growing fashion of cafes and availability of tea to make at home meant that tea rooms became less common towards the end of the century. They do still exist in many places across the country, and have become as much a tradition as tea itself. Even today, despite the huge array of fast food and drink outlets, this tradition remains, attracting huge numbers of British and foreign tourists. People from countries afar want to experience something truly British on their trip. Sampling a tea room is like sampling our culture.
tea rooms, tea was expensive and heavily taxed and thus only a luxury for the rich. However, after debates regarding possible health risks and the suitability of the beverage for “persons of an inferior rank”, the increasing reaction towards working class drunkenness led to tea being promoted as an alternative. Under the Temperance movement, from the 1830’s onwards many new tea rooms and houses opened up as an alternative to pubs and inns, and tea became more widely accessible for the public at large. To further encourage this transition from alcohol to tea, consumption and tea meetings were held all over Britain. It is thought that the term ‘teetotal’ was derived from this beverage exchange. A significant point in the evolution of tea rooms came in 1864, when the Aerated Bread Company Tea Shops opened a tea room on their premises. This was so significant because they provided one of the first places that a woman could have a meal, without a male escort and without risk to their reputations.
Most tea rooms have not moved with the times, stepping into one can be like stepping back in time with the vintage furniture and dated decor. It’s nice to see that something so rooted in our history can survive without having to modernize or adapt.
The notion of tea rooms continued to grow through the 19th century with 16
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Tea Room Ettiquitte
The unsavory habit of dunking biscuits’ is strictly prohibited and will result in you being ask to leave the tea rooms.
The Tea Cosy tea rooms in Brighton take afternoon tea very seriously and have carefully constructed a set of rules and guidelines which they expect their customers to follow whilst taking tea in their rooms.
There is a correct way to hold your cup and saucer. Pick up your cup and saucer together-holding the saucer in one hand and the cup in the other. The best way to hold a tea cup is to slip your index finger through the handle, up to almost the first knuckle, then balance and secure the cup by placing your thumb on the top of the handle and allowing the bottom of the handle to rest on your middle finger. Hold the cup lightly, by the handle- your pinkie doesn’t have to be extended (contrary to popular belief, the ring and the pinkie finger should not be
David and James would like to welcome you to the Tea Cosy Tea Rooms. To avoid embarrassment we ask you to take note of the tearoom etiquette. Mobile phones must not be used in the main tearoom under any circumstances. If you have the desire to use your mobile phone please step out the front of the shop and stand to the side. 20
Guests are invited to adopt correct posture and avoid from resting elbows on our tables.
extended, but should rest by curving gently back towards your wrist). Hold the saucer under your cup while you sip your tea (least you should spill or dribble).
Conversation should never be louder than two tones above the chink of a tea cup and Good table manners are expected at all times.
When stirring your tea, kindly refrain from clinking the sides of your cup. Gently swish the liquid back and forth being careful not to touch the sides of your cup if possible. Never leave your spoon in the cup and be sure not to sip your tea from the spoon either. After stirring, place your spoon quietly on the saucer, behind the cup, on the right hand side under the handle. Please ensure you introduce a little milk or cold water to your cup before pouring your tea to prevent cracking of the china.
As display of respect, guests in residents at the stroke of 4pm on Sundays are required to rise for The National Anthem, followed by three cheers for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Uncooperative guests will be promptly issued with their bill and escorted from the premises. (Disabled and infirm exempt). Although The Tea Cosy does not have a set dress code we request guests to be well presented, especially on a Sunday
We have kindly provided sugar tongs on each table for your use. For hygiene reasons please do not touch the sugar cubes in the bowl.
The management reserved the right to ask you to leave at any point during your stay with us, without giving reason, should we find you uncongenial. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Tea Cosy.
Blasphemy Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Julie Goodyear MBE, Princess Diana, Jane Mc Donald, or any member of the royal family is strictly prohibited and again will result in you being asked to leave the rooms. 21
Tea Rations
as leftover tea and tea leaves were used to clean. Tea merchants banned together to help in the war effort. Continuing to serve clients, Lyons teahouse made 100 cups of tea to the pound rather than the usual 85. Twinings supplied tea for Red Cross prisoner-of-war packages and for many YMCA wartime canteens. Despite the fact much of London was being bombed, tea was still served. Following the bombing of the Twinings tea shop on The Strand, employees had tables set back up within hours to serve tea. In October 1952, the end of tea rationing meant that British people could enjoy unlimited cups of tea for the first time in twelve years.
During the second world war, Germany did what they could to stop the importation of food into Britain, largely affecting the amount of produce that the country received. As a result, the government at the time decided to introduce a system of rationing. This involved every householder registering with their local shops which would then receive enough food for its registered users. Foods such as bacon, butter, sugar, eggs and cheese were amongst many foods in limited supply. Some say the cruelest blow of all was the rationing of tea, to just two ounces a week in January 1940. Despite this, tea was still being served and acted as a morale-booster for many during the war and never a drop was wasted 24
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Tea Breaks
enjoy the social aspect of collecting mugs from colleagues desks and catching up on gossip in the kitchen. It’s the equivalent of a cigarette break for a non-smoker.
Although there are formal tea ceremonies in Britain such as afternoon tea and tea dances, for the majority of the population, a bigger part of their tea consumption comes from tea breaks.
Unfortunately for British workers, their love of tea breaks has been known to be their downfall. An Italian subcontractor won a contract over a British firm because they did not have to include paid tea breaks in their bid for work. The contractor claimed that although the time for a tea break seems small, it all mounts up when multiplied by several hundred workers over the period of a several month contract. Despite this, law in Britain states that employees are entitle to tea breaks.
The British concept of a ‘tea break’ during working hours is used almost uniformly across the working environment. Employers generally allow breaks for tea and sometimes biscuits to be served. Some offices and workplaces may have a tea trolly, with a dedicated tea maker doing the rounds. However, most offices, particularly smaller ones, are more likely to operate on a casual system of staff taking it in turns to make their colleagues a cup of tea. Many workers 27
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I’ll have a tea,
MATE. 31
Taxes for Tea
Whilst Britons are known for their obsession with tea and love of tea breaks, some citizens will be shocked, or not so shocked, to learn that policemen enjoy their cuppa at the expense of the country. It is estimated that Forces accross the UK spend around three million pounds a year on their tea and biscuit supplies. However, the people of the nation should not fret, for a police insider claims that it just goes to show how hard officers are working to reduce crime rates and that “it certainly helps give officers that extra boost to help them solve their cases�. Well, in that case, thank goodness for tea!
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Survives 11 Dunks
Survives 11 Dunks
Survives 18 Dunks
Survives 9 Dunks
Survives 20 Dunks
Survives 11 Dunks 34
Survives 18 Dunks
Survives 20 Dunks
Survives 16 Dunks
Survives 17 Dunks
Survives 148 Dunks 35
Tea Diaries I think tea is amazing and if I ever need an excuse not to do my work or need to procrastinate a task I always find myself boiling the kettle, no matter how many cups I’ve already had!
My favourite is the Traditional Cream Tea. A nice strong cup of Twinings followed by two freshly baked fruit scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam. I also enjoy a cup of black Earl Grey.
I mostly drink tea at home in wales because I don’t like Bristol water in tea. I make tea when I’m cold just because I like to hold the warm mug.
I love most the tea you are offered at the end of some sort of ordeal, the marker that it is over and life can return to its standard tea drinking state.
When I have a good book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, that’s my best moment of drinking tea. Just sitting on the sofa or the bed with biscuit crumbs all over my top and drinking warm milk tea, it can get me through anything.
Tea fixes everything, if someone is upset you have a cup of tea, if you are catching up with friends at home you have a tea, if it’s cold outside, you have a tea, if you have had a long day you come home and have a cup of tea! It’s just the answer to everything!
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I have the biggest collection of green teas ever. Just depends on what mood your in for which you choose. I only drink a proper cup of tea at my nan’s because there’s nothing better to do!
So many people love tea for so many different reasons. To warm them when they are cold, comfort them in times of sadness, relax them when they are stressed, accompany them when chatting with friends, or simply because they like it. The situations where tea can be found in hand are endless.
The only way to make tea is milk in first. Tea is great at any time of the day but that cup when your absolutely gasping for one is the best! My favourite tea is when someone else brings it to me in my favourite mug which is massive! It has to be made perfectly and I like to be surrounded by all the right company, friends in front of the TV with no stress. Amazing.
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When the news reporter said “Shopkeepers are opening their doors bringing out blankets and cups of tea” I just smiled. It’s like yes. That’s Britain for you. Tea solves everything. You’re a bit cold? Tea. Your boyfriend has just left you? Tea. You’ve just been told you’ve got cancer? Tea. Coordinated terrorist attack on the transport
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network bringing the city to a grinding halt? Tea dammit! And if it’s really serious they may bring out the coffee. The Americans have their alert raised to red, we break out the coffee. That’s for situations more serious than this of course. Like another England penalty shoot-out. – Janvier Palmer, Journalist blog response to the July 2005 London subway bombings.
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There is no trouble so great or grave that can not be diminished by a nice cup of tea. – Bernard-Paul Heroux
Tea for Two. 42
Two for Tea. 43
– Henry Fielding
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– British Sea Power
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I always fear that creation will expire before tea time. – Sydney Smith
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Tea should be taken in
SOLITUDE – C.S. Lewis
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All true tea lovers not only like their tea strong, but like it a little stronger with each year that passes. – George Orwell
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I’m a little
Teapot.
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My Mum got her tea set as a present when she married my dad. She got rid of my Dad years ago, but she still loves her
tea set.