In Britain, you will notice that people drink a lot of tea. It normally comes with milk, so if you don’t want it, you should say so. Traditional afternoon tea, which apart from the tea, was actually a small meal with scones, sandwiches and cakes. Nowadays, the British have replaced their afternoon tea with a quick treat in a café, coffee or tea shop or a less formal at-home tea with a snack or a biscuit.
Tea time
Preparation: A cup of tea
Use freshly drawn cold water. You should allow the water to run for a few seconds before filling the kettle and then bring it to a boil. It is also recommended to preheat your tea cup before you start brewing your tea. If you use a teabag, you should place it into your cup, if you want to use loose tea leaves, use 1 tsp. per eight oz. of water. Then pour the boiling water over the tea. Stir well and leave the tea to steep for 3 – 5 minutes. Don’t exceed 5 minutes, to avoid a bitter taste. The tea bag or leaves should be gently removed from the mug with a teaspoon. The tea might be served with milk, cream, lemon or sugar on the side. Now, enjoy a perfect cup of tea!
Tasks
Comprehension
1. How do the British prefer their tea?
2. What did the traditional afternoon tea usually consist of?
3. How do most people in Britain drink their tea now?
4. What kind of water is recommended for tea brewing?
5. Why should the steeping of the tea not exceed 5 minutes?
6. What should you do with the cup before placing the tea in it and pouring the water?
Translate
Translate the preparation part.
Act Out
Arrange a small role play and explain to your classmates how you brew a cup of tea.
Find Out
Check this link and find out what the British mean when they say: Idiom: Not my cup of tea (usingenglish.com)