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Take Your Tea with Milk and Manners

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Tea is the beverage of choice for people around the world. Tea Time, however, belongs to the British.

We all love to break for tea when we need to steal a quiet moment to ourselves. But real teatime is meant to be shared with friends. Teatime is a social gathering with roots in old England. The British are indeed viewed as the world's tea drinkers, and many residents of England are also accomplished growers and blenders of fine teas.

If you ever have the good fortune to attend a proper English teatime, accept the invitation and, for heaven's sake, mind your manners. Not everyone has the good fortune to participate in teatime, and etiquette is an important part of the tradition.

As with every culture, the social rules and traditions have become lax over the years. English teatime etiquette is certainly not the staid ceremony that it used to be. In the early days, gentlemen were expected to pour their hot tea into the saucer, allowing it to become cool enough to drink. This tradition has long since disappeared, and anyone drinking tea in this manner would certainly raise some eyebrows in today's tearooms. Those following modern teatime etiquette would surely view this as rude and boorish behavior. Another archaic tradition saw the lady of the house keeping her tea under lock and key, and bringing it out only at teatime. This act is of course long past, and modern British hostesses keep their teas in a countertop canister.

Even in our modern society, there is certain etiquette to be followed when a British host or hostess invites you to teatime. For a proper teatime gathering, the hosts will forward written invitations to all of the guests. These invitations are designed to provide all of the detailed information that the guests will need, including what to expect. By sending invitations, the guests can be fully prepared for the gathering and will not feel out of place.

Every proper British teatime celebration requires certain items and accessories. Of course, a teapot is an absolute necessity. Silver teapots are usually chosen for formal affairs, while pretty china teapots are used for intimate gatherings and casual teatime parties. When a British teatime table is set, there are cups and saucers, teaspoons and a sugar bowl. A tea strainer is placed upon the table, along with sugar tongs and a lemon dish with a fork. Guests will be provided with forks if cakes are being served, and knives to use with jam or cream for scones. An individual spoon is placed with each cream and jam bowl. Teatime refreshments are never placed on a separate table, but are only served at the table where guests are seated.

No proper British teatime hostess or host spends her or his time fussing in the kitchen. The preparations are made beforehand, allowing the host or hostess to entertain the guests in proper fashion.

Anyone can enjoy proper British teatime. Invite some friends over, set the table with your prettiest teapot and utensils, and splurge on English scones and cream. Teatime is a wonderful way to enjoy the company of friends while sipping a favorite blend, any time at all.