Tea and Culture--Part 1

Did you know that tea is the second most frequently consumed beverage on Earth? Only water is more popular. This leads to tea being associated with many diverse cultures.

The British Afternoon Tea (NOT "high tea"--that means dinner) was invented by Anna, Duchess of Bedford some time in the early 1800s. Back then, people would eat a large breakfast (no stale donuts for them) then would eat a late meal at about 8:00PM. Needless to say, Anna complained of a "sinking feeling" in the middle of the afternoon. So she asked one of her servants to bring some light refreshments along with tea to her chambers. This afternoon meal caught on with Anna's friends (who were probably all just as hungry). Soon, the concept of Afternoon Tea was well established.

Stay tuned for some other little tidbits of tea lore!