Queen Elizabeth II does not like luxury or excess.
For example, she has cornflakes for breakfast and nothing else,
for tea at five o'clock in the evening - a couple of pieces of round bread without crust with jam.
Perhaps, "fife-o-klok tee"- the most popular English tradition in the world. You might be interested to know that modern English afternoon tea comes in two varieties: "short" And "high" or "meat".
The history of afternoon tea begins in France
Tea appeared in Paris in the 17th century and immediately became extremely popular among the aristocracy. In the notes of Madame de Sevigne, tea is mentioned as one of the most fashionable drinks that “cure all ills.” And in England the drink appeared much later. although Queen Elizabeth l (1533-1603) gave permission to the British East India Company to trade tea in the early 17th century. Due to the difficult political situation within the country, trade in it did not begin until the late 1670s.
England influenced tea traditions in European countries, where they first learned to successfully mix different types of tea. For example, the classic English Breakfast is a blend of the strongest Ceylon and Assamese varieties of the highest quality. England also shaped tea etiquette and the appearance of tea utensils. During tea drinking, the table is set with a white disposable tablecloth and napkins, and a vase with a living bouquet.
In 1662, the reign of King Charles II began. He was married to the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. Her dowry was the largest ever recorded in world history. Portugal gave England two million gold coins, Tangier and Morocco in North Africa, Bombay in India, and also permission for the British to use all ports in the Portuguese colonies of Africa, Asia and America. This contributed to the flourishing of trade in overseas goods, including tea.
Because Karl grew up on the continent, both he and his Portuguese fiancée loved drinking tea. When the monarchy was restored they brought this foreign custom with them to England. Their habit of drinking tea made it popular among the upper class of society, emulating monarchs. Soon the popularity of tea became such that it replaced beer as the national drink for the aristocracy. During the reign of Charles II the foundations of the British tea trade would be laid. The East India Company received a monopoly on the sale of the popular drink. At the beginning of the 18th century, tea was already served in more than 500 coffee houses in London.
Before the advent of afternoon tea in Great Britain, the British sat down to the table twice a day, for breakfast and lunch. In the mid-eighteenth century, it became fashionable for the aristocracy and middle classes to serve dinner in the evening. Lunch was a long, hearty meal at the end of the day, but it was hard to get through without a snack. Afternoon tea became a bridge between breakfast and lunch, which began to be served no earlier than 8 pm.
According to legend, in the mid-19th century, one lady-in-waiting, Anne Maria Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford, began inviting friends to tea at five o'clock in her chambers at Belvoir Castle. Tea was served with small cakes, sandwiches with bread and butter, and sweets. This custom became very popular among the aristocracy, and then spread throughout England. Soon afternoon tea became a small meal in itself.
This meal schedule was suitable for the upper classes, but not for working people. A tired factory worker would come home after work well after five o'clock and very hungry. Therefore, in the industrial areas of Great Britain (northern England and southern Scotland), the so-called early dinner with tea appeared. Meat, bread, butter, vegetables, cheese and of course tea were served on the table. And, since this dinner was eaten at a high dining table, and not a low tea table, it was called “high” tea.
Sandwiches for tea
Thus, while afternoon tea served as a meeting place for the upper class, high tea was a necessity for the working class. This traditional high tea still exists in parts of the North of England and Scotland.
Soon the upper class added “early tea” to their daily routine. This type of dinner could be easily prepared, so it became a practice when the servants were absent for any reason. The "high tea" of the nobility consisted of the usual menu of afternoon tea and, in addition, cold meats, smoked salmon and fruit.
Most people call afternoon tea "high tea" High Tea, because they think it sounds noble, almost royal.
In fact, high tea, or Meat Tea"meat tea" is lunch.
Afternoon tea, usually served during the day, is called Low Tea because they drank it in the living room, where near the sofas and armchairs there were low, almost like modern coffee tables.
There are three main types of tea in Fife o'clock (Afternoon Tea or Low Tea):
Cream tea Cream Tea- Tea, buns, jam and cream
Light Tea Light Tea- Tea, buns and sweets
Full Tea Full Tea- Tea, sandwiches, buns, sweets and dessert
Full tea
In England the traditional tea time was from four or five o'clock to seven. Today, most tea shops serve tea from three to five o'clock. The menu has also changed. In addition to tea, bread, butter and pies, the order includes:
Savory snacks Savories- tiny sandwiches or snacks;
Buns Scones- served with jam and Devonshire or clotted cream;
Cookies Pastries- pies, cookies, shortbread and sweets.
The number of tea varieties offered in the cafe is very large. But they almost always include such popular teas as:
Assam Assam: A strong, rich Indian tea with a “malty” aroma.
Darjeeling An aromatic, slightly astringent Indian tea with a hint of almonds and wildflowers.
Earl Gray tea Earl Gray A blend of several varieties of black tea with bergamot, named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister from 1830-1834.
Lapsang Souchong Lapsang Souchong Chinese tea with a striking aroma of pine smoke.
A survey was recently conducted in England to determine the nation's favorite afternoon tea sandwich.
First place went not to the traditional cucumber sandwich, but to smoked salmon and cream cheese on grain bread.
The British's favorite sandwiches
Tea etiquette in English
Many tourists coming to England want to take part in a real traditional “Fife o Clock” tea party. Demand creates supply, and now almost every hotel, restaurant or cafe offers visitors a completely authentic ceremony. We’ll talk about which of them are really worth visiting in the next article. Now, let’s briefly go over the basic rules of English tea etiquette. Of course, you know them, this is just in case.
-The cup is lifted from the saucer only to take a sip, and not kept suspended all the time.
- Do not put your little finger far away, keep it close to the other fingers near the handle of the cup.
- The tea is stirred with a spoon not in a circle, but from bottom to top.
What to pour first: tea or milk? There is no consensus among the British on this matter. Once upon a time, because porcelain was of lower quality, it would crack if water was too hot. This led to milk being poured first and then hot tea. Now this problem is gone, you can pour tea of the strength that suits you, and then add milk or cream.
Lemon is served on a separate plate with a special lemon fork. A slice of lemon can float in a cup of tea. According to tradition, a clove should be stuck in the center of a lemon slice.
Before putting lemon and then sugar into the cup (in that order!), the cup should be turned 180 degrees so that the handle is on the left.
Now you can put a slice of lemon in a cup and squeeze the juice out of it. To do this, use the back of a teaspoon to “pull” it to the near wall of the cup and squeeze it out, firmly holding the handle of the cup with your left hand. The squeezed lemon must be removed from the cup and placed on a saucer.
Mix the sugar in a cup with a personal teaspoon, trying to do it silently. Drinking tea with a spoon left in the cup is considered bad manners. Therefore, after stirring the sugar, it should be removed from the cup and placed on a saucer. Before you start drinking, turn the cup again so that the handle is on the right.
Sugar is served in the form of pieces. Be sure to use tongs to place it in the cup. Sugar used to be served in a cone shape, reminiscent of a witch's hat, and broken off with tongs. The tradition of using tongs for sugar remains, although it has already been made into pieces.
According to the rules of table decoration, the napkin should lie to the left of the device. After lunch is over, she is also left on the left.
Buns, scones eaten just like regular bread. Place on a separate plate, pinch off a piece, which is then spread with butter or jam using a knife. The fork is not used.
A small knife and fork is used to open an open sandwich or cookie.
And most importantly: the best etiquette is to relax and have a good time.
Drinking a cup of tea at 5 pm is one of the aristocratic ceremonies that the British are so proud of. The ZagraNitsa portal has collected for you the most interesting facts about this ritual and found the ideal places for 5 o'clock tea in London
Let's hit the facts: What? Where? When?
1The history of the tea tradition is very prosaic. At the beginning of the 19th century, in the break between lunch and late dinner, the British had time to get pretty hungry. One day, the Duchess of Bedford decided to have tea with sandwiches and fresh pastries at 5 pm. The lady liked the snack so much that she decided to invite her friends to tea gatherings. Over the years, 5 o'clock tea has become so popular that it has grown into a custom that is still observed by the British today.
25 o'clock tea is not limited to simple tea drinking at a certain time. The tradition provides for a number of attributes worthy of a Chinese ceremony. This includes a white tablecloth, a porcelain set (drinking tea from ordinary cups is bad manners!), a cover for a teapot, and strainers with sugar bowl
Photo: redfunnel.co.uk 3 The British favorite teas are Darjeeling and Earl Grey. And among the treats they mainly choose bread, butter, cookies, jam, buns and toast.
An essential ingredient when drinking tea is milk. It is poured into the cup first.
While drinking tea, you need to hold the cup with three fingers (thumb, index and middle), never inserting the index finger into the “ear”.
Photo: Shutterstock 6 It was in England, at the birth of 5 o'clock tea, that the concept of “tipping” arose. At that time, ceremonies were held in gardens, with a large number of guests. Each of them wanted his cup not to be empty, so the servants They gave them some money so that they would pour more tea more diligently.
Every year the British drink more than 160 million cups of tea, more than 80% of which at home.
Where to go for 5 o'clock tea
Ritz Hotel. The Ritz Hotel restaurant is considered one of the most elite places for tea. A classic dress code is required here, and live music will accompany your meal. Drinking tea costs from £50 per person. A table must be reserved at least a month in advance.
Photo: theritzlondon.com 
Photo: theritzlondon.com Fortnum & Mason. A truly royal tea party awaits you at Fortnum & Mason, an ancient department store that has been operating since the early 18th century. The afternoon tea restaurant located there is called The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. It was opened personally by the Queen, and it quickly became a fashionable place for 5 o'clock tea. For a meal here you will have to pay 40-45 pounds per person.
Photo: winebeing.com
Photo: olivemagazine.com
Sketch. If you want to feel like you're in a fairy tale, be sure to visit Sketch. In addition to the doll design, you will be delighted with tea treats: pastries, cakes and macaroons. 5 o'clock tea will cost up to 30 pounds per person.
Photo: sketch.london 
Photo: sketch.london The Dorchester Hotel. The Dorchester Hotel will provide you with tea in luxurious surroundings. His restaurant serves afternoon tea from 14:30 to 18:00. The afternoon tea menu, which also includes sandwiches or pastries, ranges from £50 to £65 (including a glass of champagne). The meal will be accompanied by a live pianist.
It is believed that the tradition of drinking tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon appeared in the 19th century among aristocrats. Balls and other social events in English high society began later and later. There was a long break between a fairly early lunch and a late dinner. According to legend, one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, Duchess Anne of Bedford, came up with the idea of treating herself to tea with sandwiches, buns, tartlets, cookies and cakes while waiting for evening social events.
Photo:
The tradition quickly took root among the aristocracy and middle class. Even today, many companies allow employees to leave their desks to go to a cafe to leisurely drink a cup of strong tea. True, to experience the atmosphere of the classic “fife-o-clock”, it is not enough to just fly to London and go to the first coffee shop you come across. Most likely, you will be offered a mug with a tea bag and a prepared sandwich or chocolate bar. For a real English tea party, luxury is required - a starched linen snow-white tablecloth, an exquisite set of translucent white porcelain with a teapot and an elegant milk jug, silverware, and many snack plates with a variety of delicacies. Traditionally, fife-o-clock is served with sandwiches made of thin slices of white bread with cucumbers, cheese, ham, boiled eggs and lettuce. In addition to sandwiches, the table always includes hot crispy toast, traditional English orange marmalade and butter. Sweet baked goods are a must: buns, muffins, cookies, waffles. By the way, in the highest circles of England in the 19th century, dishes for five o’clock tea with Indian spices were considered especially chic.
Prepare sandwiches for a five-o-clock tea party:
Boil 2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces, mix with 1.5 tsp. tikka masala powder, 1 tsp. curry powder, 2 tbsp. l. white seedless raisins, 1 tbsp. l. coconut milk and 3 tbsp. l. mayonnaise. Salt and pepper to taste. Tomato, cucumber, 100 g cheese, 200 g ham cut into thin slices. Take a square piece of toast bread, make a sandwich - put ham on a piece of bread, cover with a second piece of bread, spread the chicken mixture, cover with a third piece of bread. In another similar sandwich, place slices of cucumber, tomato, cheese and ham between the bread layers. Cut each sandwich into 3-4 pieces. Serve with tea.24 carat gold tea party
Photo: Hotel St. James Court, a Taj Hotel
If initially the tradition of drinking tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon was associated with satisfying hunger, then from the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century it became more of a social event. Having a fife-o-clock at home has become unfashionable. Ladies of high society gathered to drink tea, gossip, and show off their new outfits in the restaurants of fashionable hotels. One of the most popular places for "fife-o-clock" at the beginning of the 20th century was the famous St. James' Court next to Buckingham Palace. Aristocrats were offered a traditional English tea party with champagne and desserts. In addition to expensive champagne and aromatic tea of the best varieties, guests were treated to exquisite treats. Today, like 100 years ago, everyone can come to this hotel and feel like a real English aristocrat. A well-trained waiter in an elegant tailcoat leads you to an impeccably laid table. While a live pianist plays, you can enjoy champagne and desserts with 24-karat edible gold: white chocolate cake with gold crumbs, strawberry cake with gold petals, jelly with gold “snow,” as well as traditional English sandwiches and scones.
Who doesn't want sugar or cream?
The British drink tea black, strong and always with milk or low-fat cream. The English tea ceremony is, of course, simpler than the Chinese one, but it has its own rules. First, the kettle is heated with boiling water, the water is poured out, and tea leaves are poured into the kettle at the rate of 1 tsp. for a cup of tea. Pour boiling water into the kettle, close the lid and leave for 5 minutes. Then a little hot milk is poured into the cups, freshly brewed tea is poured on top through a silver strainer, after which sugar is added to taste. If the “fief-o-clock” takes place at home, then the right to pour tea for guests belongs to the hostess of the house.
Where to stay London:
St. James' Court, a Taj Hotel
Photo: Hotel St. James Court, a Taj Hotel
Since its opening in 1902, St. James" Court has had the honor of hosting many royalty and heads of foreign state. The hotel is located in the heart of Westminster - in the center of London, adjacent to Buckingham Palace and Green Park. This discreet masterpiece of the Victorian era and neighbor of the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, sharing with its famous Shakespearean courtyard with fountain, it also has an impeccable century-old pedigree and now boasts renowned Taj hospitality. Among the signature experiences of St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel offers guests access to a fleet of exclusive vintage and classic cars, including the Queen Mother's favorite Jaguar DS420 Daimler "Grand Princess" limousine and Lord Mountbatten's vintage Daimler "Silver Baroness". Hotel website: www.stjamescourthotel.co.uk
Recipe: cakes with orange jelly and chocolate glaze
contributed by Vikas Milutra, Chef at St. James' Court, a Taj Hotel,
London, UK
Photo: shutterstock.com
For 15 servings:
Dark chocolate - 250 g
Gold pastry balls - for decoration
For the bottom layer:
Egg yolks - 5 pcs.
Egg whites - 3 pcs.
Corn flour - 1 tsp.
Sugar - 3.5 tsp.
Flour - 3 tsp.
Orange zest - 1 tsp.
For orange jelly:
Orange juice - 500 ml
Sugar - 150 g
Agar-agar - 2 tsp.
1. For the bottom layer: in a blender, beat the egg yolks with corn flour and orange zest until fluffy. Separately, beat the egg whites with sugar until stiff (as for meringue). Mix both mixtures, add flour, mix gently, transfer the mixture into a pastry bag and make circles about 3 cm in diameter on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes in an oven preheated to 150-160° C. The color should become golden brown.
2. For the jelly: place the juice, sugar and agar-agar in a saucepan, bring to a boil, boil for 3 minutes, then pour the liquid onto a greased baking sheet to form a thin layer and leave until completely hardened.
3. Cut the frozen orange jelly into circles with a diameter slightly smaller than the circles of the bottom layer of cakes. Transfer the circle of jelly to the bottom layer. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, pour the pyramid of meringue circles and jelly, decorate with golden confectionery balls and leave the cakes until completely hardened. Serve cakes for tea.
Thanks:
The editors of the magazine "AiF PRO Kitchen" thanks the St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel (www.stjamescourthotel.co.uk) and Travel Media agency (www.tm-russia.ru) for their assistance in preparing the article.Fife-o-clock
(English) - the custom of holding a meeting before lunch
Wed. It’s not enough for them... to pour from empty to empty during lunch and evenings; no - they’ve now come up with the idea of getting ready at four o’clock and drinking tea... Five o’clock! It’s very proper to make English faces!
Grigorovich. My uncle Bandurin.
Wed. She values not an honest man, not a good servant of the motherland, but a person, having finally won her for her five o'clock...
Boborykin. At home. 4.
Wed. Five o'clock - five o'clock.
Russian thought and speech. Yours and someone else's. Experience of Russian phraseology. Collection of figurative words and parables. T.T. 1-2. Walking and apt words. A collection of Russian and foreign quotes, proverbs, sayings, proverbial expressions and individual words. St. Petersburg, type. Ak. Sci.. M. I. Mikhelson. 1896-1912.
Synonyms:See what “fife-o-clock” is in other dictionaries:
- (English, five o’clock five hours). The English have a tea party. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. FIFE O KLOK [English. five o'clock (tea) lit. five o'clock] in England and the USA: drinking tea between lunch (LEUNCH) and dinner... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Tea ceremony, tea, tea drinking, tea drinking, tea drinking, tea drinking Dictionary of Russian synonyms. fife o klok noun, number of synonyms: 6 tea (6) ... Synonym dictionary
Fife o cloka, fife o cloka... Spelling dictionary-reference book
fife-o-clock- fife about clo/k, fife about clo/ka... Together. Apart. Hyphenated.
M. Drinking tea between lunch (second, heavier breakfast) and lunch; five o'clock tea (in the UK and some English-speaking countries). Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova
fife-o-clock- fife o kl ok, and... Russian spelling dictionary
fife-o-clock- fife/ o/ klok/ … Morphemic-spelling dictionary
fife-o-clock- (2 m), R. fife o clo/ka ... Spelling dictionary of the Russian language
Fife o'clock (English) the custom of holding a meeting before lunch. Wed. It’s not enough for them... to pour from empty to empty during lunch and evenings; no, they’ve now decided to get ready at four o’clock and drink tea... Five o’clock! Englishman squirm... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)
Books
- Fife-o-klok, Groshek Jiri. This book has a little bit of everything: former lives, sins, self-irony, and literary tricks with exposure. And most importantly, "Fife-o-clock" is a really funny collection consisting of a novel" ...
- A light breakfast in the shadow of the necropolis, Groshek I.. The first part of Jiri Groshek's trilogy, including "A light breakfast in the shadow of the necropolis" - "The Great Restoration of Lunch" - "Fife-o-klok". First published in 2001 as a novel" by a Czech writer and...
“Fife-o-clock”, or “five o’clock tea”, is another English tradition that looks romantic in the eyes of a Russian tourist and one of the first associations with the word “English”.
“Fife-o-clock”, or “five o’clock tea”, is another English tradition that looks romantic in the eyes of a Russian tourist and one of the first associations with the word “English”. Perhaps this is why such a large percentage of tourists feel disappointed when they learn that this tradition no longer exists. Few people in Russia know about this, but it is true.
"Fife-o-clock" is now constantly served only by royal palaces, private clubs (sports, gentlemen's or country clubs), some conservative hotels, restaurants and shops that want to emphasize their elitism and commitment to traditions, and many tourist-oriented cafes in the centers crowds of tourists, but the British have not had this at home for almost a hundred years. It is not surprising if we remember the reasons for which this tradition actually appeared.
The main version of “five o’clock tea” is Cream tea: tea, two scones, very thick cream (more like butter) and jam.
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History of appearance
This tradition was born at the beginning of the 19th century, and it was of purely practical origin. In that era, people got up early, had lunch at noon, and had dinner when the head of the family returned home after work. And since the men’s working day then lasted 12-14 hours, the owner came home at 9-10 pm.
For the family remaining at home, the gap between lunch and dinner was too large, which is why the tradition of serving tea at 17:00 caught on so quickly: it was very convenient. Russians often imagine something intricate, but “five o’clock tea” actually looked extremely simple: a woman drank a cup of tea with a sandwich or pastry and fed the same to her children - that’s all.
A modern twist on tradition
As soon as legal restrictions on the length of the working day appeared in Britain, the tradition immediately began to decline, and when the working day shrank from 14 hours to 8-10, it disappeared completely, as unnecessary, almost completely disappearing by the beginning of the 30s.
Now the British don’t drink “five o’clock tea,” and even this name is rarely used anymore - most people are either finishing work at 5 p.m. or driving home from work, don’t at all strive to gorge themselves on sandwiches an hour and a half before dinner, and even quit work for a long No employer will give you a tea party. But nevertheless, part of the tradition has been preserved: tea in Britain is everywhere, in any establishment, it is drunk a lot, although at other times and without ceremonial events.
But tourists can try the English fife-o-clock. Naturally, in a cafe this exists solely as a tourist attraction, but if the tea is good, why not?
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Serving
Cafes now serve tea earlier, usually between 14:00 and 16:00. It is now called Afternoon tea. Milk is always served with tea, and “Tea for Two” is often offered, designed for a couple.
Tea is served in a small teapot, usually not a loose teapot, but a bag, which is better to take out before it becomes too strong: boiling water is not provided separately, only the contents of this small teapot are poured into cups. Variants of tea differ in the food that goes with it.
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Range
The main form of “five o’clock tea”, which is served by 90% of establishments, is Cream tea: tea, two scones, very thick cream (more like butter) and jam. Scones are small biscuit buns, sometimes regular, sometimes with raisins or something else. They are quite dense and heavy, the taste, let’s say, is not for everyone. They are eaten by cutting them lengthwise and spreading each half with cream and jam. Usually, instead of cream, regular butter is now served.
Another option often offered to tourists is Full tea, it is served with a three-level plate: on one level there are small sandwiches (with cucumber and butter, fish pate, ham, eggs, etc.), on the middle level there are savory pastries, and on the third - sweet ones . They eat it in order, starting with sandwiches.
The third option is tea with pastries. In this case, a selection of small cakes is served with tea. This is usually the option served by pastry shops.
These are the main types of tea. There are also aristocratic ones - with delicacy tartlets, a glass of champagne and so on, as well as a lot of regional versions: somewhere in the village they can serve a salad with tea, somewhere - some kind of cold dish, a set of snacks, a piece of meat pie, and so on.
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