Tea Time!

The Mad Monk · June 23, 2003, 00:41

A friend of mine says that he enjoys tea all day long, but in England, it is considered rude to have tea outside of prescribed times. Is that true?

The world wants to know.

Dis · June 23, 2003, 00:45

tea is gay

real men drink coffee- black

Victor Galis · June 23, 2003, 00:47

Nah, I drink about two cups of tea a day at work.

Lorizael · June 23, 2003, 00:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
tea is gay

real men drink coffee- black

Bodd's?

Dis · June 23, 2003, 00:47

actually I should say real men drink water- that's what I drink.

Jon Miller · June 23, 2003, 00:50

I drink water
tea
coffee (black)

am I a real man or not?

Jon Miller

Lorizael · June 23, 2003, 00:56

I drink dew and milk and water. I have to stop drinking milk soon, though, because I know the kidney stones are lurking behind the family tree.

Dis · June 23, 2003, 00:58

for some reason iced tea is the only tea popular in the U.S.

I think it's because no one wants to drink hot tea when it is so hot out.

If you English had to live where summers are actually hot like in the U.S., maybe you'd not drink so much hot tea.

although that doesn't explain why american can drink coffee when it is hot out. I knew guys who would drink coffee on watch in the engine room of a navy ship when it is way over 100 degrees F and high humidity.

I always drank soda when I was in the navy though. That was my primary source of caffeine back then. Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper were my favs.

As for milk- well I can't drink that anymore

Jon Miller · June 23, 2003, 00:59

Ilike hot tea, some ice tea is alright though

Jon Miller

FrustratedPoet · June 23, 2003, 04:18

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
A friend of mine says that he enjoys tea all day long, but in England, it is considered rude to have tea outside of prescribed times. Is that true?

The world wants to know.

No it isn't true. Contrary to popular belief drinking tea isn't some kind of religion in this country.

Our religion is soccer, although it is also acceptable to practise that at any time of the day.

Dauphin · June 23, 2003, 06:33

We always have tea and biscuits at 11am, we call that break elevensies, and cucumber sandwiches at 4pm, we call that break afternoon tea.

FrustratedPoet · June 23, 2003, 06:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
cucumber sandwiches at 4pm

Make sure the crusts are cut off! God help you if I find crusts!

MikeH · June 23, 2003, 07:19

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
A friend of mine says that he enjoys tea all day long, but in England, it is considered rude to have tea outside of prescribed times. Is that true?

The world wants to know.

It's the other way round, if you are found without a cup of tea at any point when you are awake you can be locked in stocks in the village square and be taunted by children.

We don't throw rotten fruit and veg at them because that's our best food that is.

Hydey · June 23, 2003, 07:32

I drink at least 8 cups of green tea per day

along with 3 or 4 litres of water.

MikeH · June 23, 2003, 07:43

Are you in the Australian world championship winning urination team?

Narz · June 23, 2003, 08:23

I drink alot of herbal teas, Ginger tea, Red Clover is good too and some Chinese teas. I find them soothing, I never use sugar.

Starchild · June 23, 2003, 08:24

oooh, don't forget High Tea when you have a proper meal.

In fact, tea in general can stand for what Americans call dinner.

Dauphin · June 23, 2003, 10:29

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeH

It's the other way round, if you are found without a cup of tea at any point when you are awake you can be locked in stocks in the village square and be taunted by children.

*slurp*

Very true, travellers to England be warned. You'd probably need to get the special visa that permits you to not be in possession of a cup of tea at all times.

*slurp*

MikeH · June 23, 2003, 10:33

I currently have 2 cups of tea on my desk to be on the safe side.

Skanky Burns · June 23, 2003, 10:35

I don't drink tea, nor coffee. I just haven't aquired a taste for them.

Solly · June 23, 2003, 11:49

Just eating my tea now... a chicken leg, with some lettuce and a mixture I am starting to get quite proud of.

A bit of a concoction it is - white cabbage, red onion and a teaspoon of hot chili powder. Fry it in olive oil and a dash of water for eight minutes, adding fresh basil as you go along. A bit of salt and a bit of pepper. Take off the heat and all about 150ml of double cream.

Well nice.

Solly · June 23, 2003, 11:51

Oh, and I always have a pot of tea every morning before work. 8:15, get to Sainsbury and hand over my 75p for the two cups worth. 8:35 the tea seems to get me in motion....

8:50 I'm feeling a bit emptier and so head over yonder to work.

Dis · June 23, 2003, 14:44

and what does earl grey, hot actually taste like?

Firelad · June 23, 2003, 15:52

Earl Grey hot tastes grand

In the morning a nice hot strong tea, in the afternoon earl grey and in the evening a nice herbal tea. I wasn't following that very strictly lately because my schedule is messed up due to end of school. I shall go get my herbal tea now that you reminded me.

I don't drink coffee. Yuck! My parents make very good coffee but I cannae drink it!

Makeo · June 23, 2003, 15:59

not a fan of early grey. i usually have a cup of tea with my breakfast and then after dinner.

Provost Harrison · June 23, 2003, 16:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Starchild
oooh, don't forget High Tea when you have a proper meal.

In fact, tea in general can stand for what Americans call dinner.

Mike words in High Tea...or is that IT - I am not quite sure

Well I tend to drink coffee all day long...caffeine and prozac, keeps me working

Provost Harrison · June 23, 2003, 16:44

I would say I drink between 5-10 cups of coffee a day at work

Cruddy · June 23, 2003, 17:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
....for some reason iced tea is the only tea popular in the U.S.

I think it's because no one wants to drink hot tea when it is so hot out.

If you English had to live where summers are actually hot like in the U.S., maybe you'd not drink so much hot tea.

Iced tea comes in cans, and is available, but unpopular. Long Island iced tea is occasionally available in certain bars.

Tea is popular in many tropical countries. It's advantage is that it quenches thirst. Coffee can make you more thirsty (don't ask me why, I'm no chemist... just experience).

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
...although that doesn't explain why american can drink coffee when it is hot out. I knew guys who would drink coffee on watch in the engine room of a navy ship when it is way over 100 degrees F and high humidity.

Turkish coffee - "Black as night, hot as hell, sweet as love". Very popular across the Middle East, as are deserts, camels, and sun burned dehydrated tourists.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I always drank soda when I was in the navy though. That was my primary source of caffeine back then. Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper were my favs.

As for milk- well I can't drink that anymore

Many cultures view the drinking of cows milk as an abomination. If you want milk, stick to human.

I can understand you missing it though.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
and what does earl grey, hot actually taste like?

Very floral, pungent, although not a heavy taste. You either love it or hate it.

As for your original question, "tea time" or "high tea" was the mid afternoon / after work snack before a heavy meal. The ritual observance has largely died out, as have the tea shops that sold the commercial version. However, it still remains in the Brit vocab as a late afternoon snack/full meal.

However, I would say tea drinking in the UK is not as popular as it once was. The use of bags as opposed to loose leaf tea has greatly spoiled the flavour and populatiry of a brew that built an Empire.

Alexander's Horse · June 23, 2003, 20:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
for some reason iced tea is the only tea popular in the U.S.

I think it's because no one wants to drink hot tea when it is so hot out.

If you English had to live where summers are actually hot like in the U.S., maybe you'd not drink so much hot tea.

Boiling hot tea is one of the best things to drink in a hot climate. It makes you sweat and cools you down.

Its probably the most refreshing drink when you are out in the hot sun.

Tea is a wonder drink - I drink it constantly through the day.

Sprayber · June 23, 2003, 22:48

Nothing like a big glass of Iced Tea. None of the fancy crap the brits drink with crumpets.