East Frisia - East Frisian Tea

It was in the year 1610 that tea was first imported to Europe by the East Frisian Company and it was probably soon afterwards that east-Frisian Sailors brought tea to their country of origin. The drinking of tea spreads throughout the country during the 18th century, initially encouraged by Frederick II. But following the failure of the Dutch East India Company, he tried to make his people lose the newly adopted habit and in order to do so, he suggested to brew more beer, as all the ingredients for this could be produced within the country. He enacted a law prohibiting the drinking of tea, but the people reacted with increased smuggling, civil disobedience and secret tea drinking.

Nowadays the Teetied, as the tea time is called, is celebrated with refined tableware, Kluntje and Wolkje. A large piece of white candied sugar is placed at the bottom of the cup, then the strongly brewed east-Frisian blend of tea is poured over it - listen to the crackling of the sugar while doing this - and it is then topped off with a cloud of cream, delicately placed on the surface with a cream spoon. Traditionally, the tea is drunk in three sips without stirring it. The first sip is soft, warm and creamy, the second is a sip bitter and strong tea and the third sip is sweet. This custom dates from a time when sugar was expensive, as it permits using the same lump of sugar for several cups of tea. Hence, drinking less than three cups is considered impolite and disrespectful.