A NICE CUP OF TEA

“If you are cold, tea will warm you, if you are heated it will cool you, if you are depressed it will cheer you, if you are excited it will calm you.” Gladstone The Victorian Prime Minister

AIMS: To learn more about the English custom of afternoon tea. To learn more about the English custom of afternoon tea. Tea. What exactly is it? Tea. What exactly is it? To find out the origin of this custom. To find out the origin of this custom.

What Exactly Is Tea? Basically it is a drink made from the dried leaves of a plant that only grows in hot countries. Today the British drink more tea than any other nation – an average of 4 kilos a head per annum, or 1650 cups of tea a year. Today the British drink more tea than any other nation – an average of 4 kilos a head per annum, or 1650 cups of tea a year. There are two kinds of tea, “afternoon tea”, and “high tea”. “Afternoon tea” takes place between 3.30 – 4.30 and consists of tea, bread, butter and jam, followed by cakes and biscuits. “High tea”, however, is a substantial meal and is eaten between by families which do not usually have a late dinner. In a well-to-do family it will consist of ham or tongue and tomatoes and salad, or a kipper, or a tinned salmon, with strong tea, bread and butter, followed by stewed fruit, or tinned pears, apricots or pineapple with cream or custard and cake. “Afternoon tea” takes place between 3.30 – 4.30 and consists of tea, bread, butter and jam, followed by cakes and biscuits. “High tea”, however, is a substantial meal and is eaten between by families which do not usually have a late dinner. In a well-to-do family it will consist of ham or tongue and tomatoes and salad, or a kipper, or a tinned salmon, with strong tea, bread and butter, followed by stewed fruit, or tinned pears, apricots or pineapple with cream or custard and cake.

The Custom of Tea Goes Back… …to the late 18 th century when Anne, wife of the 7 th Duke of Bedford, decided that she suffered from a “sinking feeling” around 5 p. m. and needed tea and cakes to bring back her strength.

Tea And Wars. T Tea has even played its part in wars. When George III of England tried to make the American colonists pay import duty on tea, a group of Americans disguised as Red Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into the sea in Boston Harbour – the Boston Tea Party which led to the War of Independence. I In another war the Duke of Wellington sensibly had a cup of tea before starting the Battle of Waterloo, “to clear the head”.

Tea Making Is An Art! The hostess first of all rinses the teapot with boiling water (this is called “warming the pot”) before adding four or five teaspoonfuls of tea. The amount of tea varies, of course, according to the number of people present. The pot is then filled with boiling water and covered by a tea-cosy to allow the tea to infuse or draw for 5 minutes. English people seldom put lemon or rum in their tea. The hostess first of all rinses the teapot with boiling water (this is called “warming the pot”) before adding four or five teaspoonfuls of tea. The amount of tea varies, of course, according to the number of people present. The pot is then filled with boiling water and covered by a tea-cosy to allow the tea to infuse or draw for 5 minutes. English people seldom put lemon or rum in their tea. TEA consists of VITAMINS MINERALS ESSENTIAL OILS

Focus on Language ”TEA” A tea bag is a small paper bag filled with enough tea leaves to make tea for one person. A tea bag is a small paper bag filled with enough tea leaves to make tea for one person. A tea caddy is a container to keep tea leaves in. A tea caddy is a container to keep tea leaves in. A tea cosy is a thick covering, like a hat, which is put on a teapot to keep the tea warm. A tea cosy is a thick covering, like a hat, which is put on a teapot to keep the tea warm.

Focus on Language ”TEA” A tea party is an occasion when people meet in the afternoon to drink tea and eat a small amount of food. A tea party is an occasion when people meet in the afternoon to drink tea and eat a small amount of food. A tea room/shop is a small restaurant where drinks and small meals, such as tea and cakes, are served. A tea room/shop is a small restaurant where drinks and small meals, such as tea and cakes, are served. A tea service /set is a set of small plates, cups with a matching pattern, for serving tea and small amounts of food. A tea service /set is a set of small plates, cups with a matching pattern, for serving tea and small amounts of food.

Conclusions Strictly speaking, tea is not a meal at all, but a suitable occasion for social intercourse, when people often come in for a chat over their cup of tea.

More We Read More We Learn Bogoroditskaya V.N.,Khrustlyova L.V.The World of Britain. Богородитская В.Н.,Хрусталева Л.В. Учебник английского языка.-М.:Версия, с.   Satinova V. F. Read and speak about Britain and the British Сатинова В. Ф. Читаем и говорим о Британии и Британцах.-Минск «Вышэйшая школа» 1997