Why Do British People Love Tea?
British people love to drink tea! If you ever visit Great Britain you will definitely be offered a cup of tea. We love tea in the morning, on a break at work, with our afternoon snack or last thing at night. British people drink tea with (or without) milk, sugar or lemon. Let’s take a look at the reasons why the cup of tea is such an important part of British culture.
All the Tea in China
Tea – of course – actually started its life in China. Legend has it that a Chinese Emperor invented tea nearly 5,000 years ago when some leaves from a tree he was sitting under blew into the boiling water he was drinking. (Source – UK Tea & Infusions Association) Tea didn’t arrive in Great Britain until the 17th century (1600–1699). During this time tea became a fashionable drink for British Royalty and the upper classes. However, it wasn’t until the late 1700s that tea became affordable and everyone could enjoy a cuppa! Since that time, tea has been a much-loved British icon.
Afternoon Tea
Having afternoon tea is a popular British tradition. At some point between lunch and dinner, British people will sit down and have a nice cuppa, usually with a cake, biscuit or scone!
Many people love to make tea in a teapot and drink it from a cup and saucer (see photo above), but others prefer a larger mug of tea. Tea in a teapot is usually made with loose leaf tea, whereas tea in a mug is usually made with a teabag!
Talking About Tea
- Barry: “Would you like a cuppa?”
- Steve: “Yes please.”
- Barry: “How do you like it?”
- Steve: “White with 2 sugars.” (White = with milk, 2 sugars = 2 sugar cubes or spoonfuls of sugar)
Heard someone say “spill the tea”? That’s gossip, not a drink! See spill the tea: tea slang vs a proper British cuppa.
More British Culture
Frequently Asked Questions
“Cuppa” is British slang for a cup of tea. “Fancy a cuppa?” simply means “Would you like a cup of tea?”
Most add milk, and some add sugar too. Ordering is often described by colour and sugar count — for example, “white with two sugars” means with milk and two sugars.
Tea arrived in Britain in the 17th century as a fashionable drink for royalty and the upper classes, but it wasn’t affordable for everyone until the late 1700s.
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