England - Afternoon Tea

England began in the 17th century to import tea from China. Initially, tea was only affordable for the upper classes and was considered a status symbol.

When in 1783 the high taxes on tea were reduced, tea also became affordable to the middle classes, which had been drinking coffee until then.

At that time, the tea-trading monopoly lay with the British East India Company. During the 18th century England became the center of the European tea-trade and it was during the 19th century that England began to grow tea in its Indian colonies, in order to reduce the trade deficit arising from the tea trade with China.

Nowadays the Five o'clock Tea has become a ritual, finding its origins in the beginning of the 19th century, with Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who started having a light snack between breakfast, which was taken early and dinner, which was eaten late in the evening. Over time these light meals became an occasion to invite friends and serve delicate pastries. It is thus that the Five o'clock tea, which today is the bedrock of the English tea culture, came into existence.