Changes

==East Asia==

==East Asia==

===China===

===China===

 

[[File:Chinese tea ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Tourner les tasses lors d'une cérémonie chinoise du thé]]

[[File:Chinese tea ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Turning the cups in a Chinese tea ceremony]]

Due to the importance of tea in Chinese society and culture, tea houses can be found in most Chinese neighbourhoods and business districts. Chinese-style tea houses offer dozens of varieties of hot and cold tea concoctions. They also serve a variety of tea-friendly and/or tea-related snacks. Beginning in the late afternoon, the typical Chinese tea house quickly becomes packed with students and business people, and later at night plays host to insomniacs and night owls simply looking for a place to relax. Formal tea houses also exist. They provide a range of Chinese and Japanese tea leaves, as well as tea making accoutrements and a better class of snack food. Finally there are the tea vendors, who specialize in the sale of tea leaves, pots, and other related paraphernalia. Tea is an important item in Chinese culture and is mentioned in the ''Seven necessities of (Chinese) daily life''.

Due to the importance of tea in Chinese society and culture, tea houses can be found in most Chinese neighbourhoods and business districts. Chinese-style tea houses offer dozens of varieties of hot and cold tea concoctions. They also serve a variety of tea-friendly and/or tea-related snacks. Beginning in the late afternoon, the typical Chinese tea house quickly becomes packed with students and business people, and later at night plays host to insomniacs and night owls simply looking for a place to relax. Formal tea houses also exist. They provide a range of Chinese and Japanese tea leaves, as well as tea making accoutrements and a better class of snack food. Finally there are the tea vendors, who specialize in the sale of tea leaves, pots, and other related paraphernalia. Tea is an important item in Chinese culture and is mentioned in the ''Seven necessities of (Chinese) daily life''.

[[File:Tea plantation, Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|right|Tea plantation, Sri Lanka]]

[[File:Tea plantation, Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|right|Tea plantation, Sri Lanka]]

In [[Sri Lanka]], usually black tea is served with milk and sugar, but the milk is always warmed. Tea is a hugely popular beverage among the Sri-Lankan people, and part of its land is surrounded by the many hills of tea plantations that spread for miles. Drinking tea has become part of the culture of Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, usually black tea is served with milk and sugar, but the milk is always warmed. Tea is a hugely popular beverage among the Sri-Lankan people, and part of its land is surrounded by the many hills of tea plantations that spread for miles. Drinking tea has become part of the culture of Sri Lanka.

==Eastern Europe==

==Eastern Europe==

# The pot will normally hold enough tea so as not to be empty after filling the cups of all the guests. If this is the case, the [[tea cosy]] is replaced after everyone has been served.

# The pot will normally hold enough tea so as not to be empty after filling the cups of all the guests. If this is the case, the [[tea cosy]] is replaced after everyone has been served.

Whether to put milk into the cup before or after the tea is a matter of debate. In the early days of tea-drinking, milk would be poured into the cup first to avoid the thermal shock of hot tea cracking the delicate porcelain. Adding milk second may scald part of the milk while it is poured into the hot tea. Pouring tea after milk reduces the maximum temperature reached by the milk, as the poured tea is gradually cooled by the milk. In other words, pouring milk after tea produces abrupt milk heating, while pouring tea after milk produces more gradual milk heating. Also, adding milk second produces an initially less homogeneous mixture (see figure above; even when the mixture is not stirred, however, it quickly becomes homogeneous due to [[brownian motion|random molecule drifting]]).

Whether to put milk into the cup before or after the tea is a matter of debate. In the early days of tea-drinking, milk would be poured into the cup first to avoid the thermal shock of hot tea cracking the delicate porcelain. Adding milk second may scald part of the milk while it is poured into the hot tea. Pouring tea after milk reduces the maximum temperature reached by the milk, as the poured tea is gradually cooled by the milk. In other words, pouring milk after tea produces abrupt milk heating, while pouring tea after milk produces more gradual milk heating. Also, adding milk second produces an initially less homogeneous mixture (see figure above; even when the mixture is not stirred, however, it quickly becomes homogeneous due to random molecule drifting).

Drinking tea from the saucer (poured from the cup in order to cool it) was not uncommon over fifty years ago but is now almost universally considered a breach of etiquette.

Drinking tea from the saucer (poured from the cup in order to cool it) was not uncommon over fifty years ago but is now almost universally considered a breach of etiquette.

In the British Isles ''tea'' is not only the name of the beverage, but also the name of a meal. Even more confusing is that the kind of meal that a person means when talking about tea depends very much on their social background and where they live.

In the British Isles ''tea'' is not only the name of the beverage, but also the name of a meal. Even more confusing is that the kind of meal that a person means when talking about tea depends very much on their social background and where they live.

For some, especially in the upper social classes, tea is of an afternoon light meal, often just cake, buns, scones or sandwiches served, irrespective of the beverage consumed with it. [[Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford]] is credited with the creation of the meal circa 1800. She thought of the idea to ward off hunger between lunch (served between 12 and 2 pm) and dinner (usually served after 7pm). The tradition continues to this day. There used to be a tradition of [[tea room]]s in Britain which provided the traditional fare of cream and jam on scones, a combination commonly known as ''[[cream tea]]''. However, these establishments have declined in popularity since [[World War II]]. In Devon and Cornwall particularly, cream teas are a speciality. ''[[Lyons Corner House]]s'' were a successful chain of such establishments. It is a common misconception that ''cream tea'' refers to tea served with cream (as opposed to milk). This is certainly not the case.

For some, especially in the upper social classes, tea is of an afternoon light meal, often just cake, buns, scones or sandwiches served, irrespective of the beverage consumed with it. Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford is credited with the creation of the meal circa 1800. She thought of the idea to ward off hunger between lunch (served between 12 and 2 pm) and dinner (usually served after 7pm). The tradition continues to this day. There used to be a tradition of [[tea room]]s in Britain which provided the traditional fare of cream and jam on scones, a combination commonly known as ''[[cream tea]]''. However, these establishments have declined in popularity since World War II. In Devon and Cornwall particularly, cream teas are a speciality. ''Lyons Corner Houses'' were a successful chain of such establishments. It is a common misconception that ''cream tea'' refers to tea served with cream (as opposed to milk). This is certainly not the case.

For others, especially working classes in South Wales and much of the North of England, the term 'tea' means the main evening meal. This is usually served soon after the family members have arrived home from work, school etc. typically between 5 and 6 pm. The question "What time are we having tea?" is about a meal and not a drink.

For others, especially working classes in South Wales and much of the North of England, the term 'tea' means the main evening meal. This is usually served soon after the family members have arrived home from work, school etc. typically between 5 and 6 pm. The question "What time are we having tea?" is about a meal and not a drink.

In areas where "tea" refers to the main evening meal, the meal eaten in the early afternoon is called "dinner" generally replaces "lunch" as the term used to refer to a midday meal. Thus school lunches are often referred to as school dinners and the time at which the evening meal is eaten is called "tea time". Even more confusingly for foreigners, working-class and middle-class children and some adults in the South of England refer to the meal eaten at tea time as "dinner" and yet refer to lunch time as "dinner time".

In areas where "tea" refers to the main evening meal, the meal eaten in the early afternoon is called "dinner" generally replaces "lunch" as the term used to refer to a midday meal. Thus school lunches are often referred to as school dinners and the time at which the evening meal is eaten is called "tea time". Even more confusingly for foreigners, working-class and middle-class children and some adults in the South of England refer to the meal eaten at tea time as "dinner" and yet refer to lunch time as "dinner time".

At work, the time for taking tea the drink is known as a "tea break" and not "tea time". At home, tea the beverage is drunk at any time so "tea time" will not refer to a time for drinking the beverage. When a person can no longer wait for someone else to make the tea they usually declare "Okay, I'll put the kettle on" and they then leave the room. The others then wait in eager anticipation for the arrival of their beverage, often accompanied with a [[biscuit|"biccy"]] or two.

At work, the time for taking tea the drink is known as a "tea break" and not "tea time". At home, tea the beverage is drunk at any time so "tea time" will not refer to a time for drinking the beverage. When a person can no longer wait for someone else to make the tea they usually declare "Okay, I'll put the kettle on" and they then leave the room. The others then wait in eager anticipation for the arrival of their beverage, often accompanied with a biscuit or two.

[[File:Tea box hg.jpg|thumb|left|Box for the storage of loose tea leaves known as a tea caddy.]]

[[File:Tea_box_hg.jpg|thumb|left|Box for the storage of loose tea leaves known as a tea caddy.]]

====Industrial Revolution====

====Industrial Revolution====

====Commonwealth countries====

====Commonwealth countries====

Afternoon tea and the variant cream tea (called ''Devonshire Tea'' in Australia and New Zealand) is the best known "tea ceremony" in the English speaking Commonwealth countries, available in homes and [[tea room]]s throughout Great Britain, India, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia; is it often associated with Great Britain. "Tea" may also refer to a meal, or dinner, in some Commonwealth countries, notably those forming the United Kingdom, regardless of the beverage served with the meal; in many English dialects it means the main meal of the day, and "dinner" means a mid-day meal. [[Alan Bennett]], for example, lamented that he was the only one to have dinner at noon. This usage has however fallen out of favour in Canada and Australia.

Afternoon tea and the variant cream tea (called ''Devonshire Tea'' in Australia and New Zealand) is the best known "tea ceremony" in the English speaking Commonwealth countries, available in homes and [[tea room]]s throughout Great Britain, India, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia; is it often associated with Great Britain. "Tea" may also refer to a meal, or dinner, in some Commonwealth countries, notably those forming the United Kingdom, regardless of the beverage served with the meal; in many English dialects it means the main meal of the day, and "dinner" means a mid-day meal. Alan Bennett, for example, lamented that he was the only one to have dinner at noon. This usage has however fallen out of favour in Canada and Australia.

This could lead to confusion over the meaning of an invitation to "tea". The slang term "cuppa" (as in a "cup of tea"), is used in the [[United Kingdom]] possibly to counteract this confusion, but is more likely just an abbreviation. Due to the diverse mix of races and cultures in Australia since the 1950s, these days most cultural variations of tea are available. Taiwanese [[bubble tea]], known locally as pearl milk tea, has become widely popular in urban Australia, with multiple chains in every major city.

This could lead to confusion over the meaning of an invitation to "tea". The slang term "cuppa" (as in a "cup of tea"), is used in the United Kingdom possibly to counteract this confusion, but is more likely just an abbreviation. Due to the diverse mix of races and cultures in Australia since the 1950s, these days most cultural variations of tea are available. Taiwanese [[bubble tea]], known locally as pearl milk tea, has become widely popular in urban Australia, with multiple chains in every major city.

A stereotypical expression "You'll Have Had Your Tea" is used to parody people from Edinburgh as being rather shortcoming with hospitality. A BBC Radio 4 series of this name was made byraeme Garden and Barry Cryer.

A stereotypical expression "You'll Have Had Your Tea" is used to parody people from Edinburgh as being rather shortcoming with hospitality. A BBC Radio 4 series of this name was made byraeme Garden and Barry Cryer.