Tea has become such an ingrained custom in Britain that it is difficult to remember that this much loved British beverage was not always a part of Britain's culture and indeed its popularity in Britain was slow in coming. In fact, tea has only been a drink in Britain for about 350 years.

Coffee shops in Britain were the first to sell tea. Most people in Britain had never heard of tea before this but, must have been more than willing to give it a try because by the beginning of the 1800s over 500 coffee houses were selling tea and pubs were complaining because the drinking of this beverage was reducing the sale of ale.

With no taxes levied on tea, it proved to be a cheaper beverage than the all popular ale. However, King Charles the II decided to levy taxes on the coffee houses selling the beverages and banned the use of it in homes. Tea prices rose until they were extremely expensive only affordable to privileged or wealthy.

However, once tea had become popular with the poor they were not willing to give up their tea drinking so smuggling tea became a lucrative though somewhat dangerous business in England. To make even more of a profit these smugglers began lacing tea with liquorice or willow. In 1784, the taxes on tea were greatly reduced and with the reduction of these taxes tea once again became affordable. This ended smuggling in Britain.

In 1884, The East India Company began importing tea from India, and monopolized the tea trade. By 1888, most of the tea British citizens drank was Indian tea. By this time both the well to do and the poor citizens in Britain were drinking tea on a daily basis and often several times a day. It had replaced both coffee and ale as the beverage of choice.

The tradition of afternoon tea is purely a British invention and started with The Duchess of Bedford during the 1800s. Deciding that a light meal between luncheon and dinner was in order the Duchess devised afternoon tea consisting of tea, sandwiches and tasty desserts. The poor following in the footsteps of the royalty began their own afternoon tradition that quickly became the main meal. Instead of simple sandwiches and desserts, a full meal would be served and this became known as high tea.

Today tea is as much a part of the British culture as English heather and the Queen herself. It is not simply a beverage of choice for this country but, a tradition that is part of the heart and soul of almost every member of the country. Go into almost any home in Britain and you will find a tea pot and if you are a guest expect to be offered a 'cuppa' of this wonderful beverage. And as you sit back and enjoy your cup of hot tea, stop for a moment and reflect on how a drink, that was completely alien to this country less than 400 years ago could now be so closely linked to the European continent and Britain in particular.

This article was written on behalf of Whittard of Chelsea. For more information see Coffee tea

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Coffee has a long and interesting history in Britain. London's first coffeehouse was established in 1652 at St. Michael's Alley in Cornhill. The Queen's Lane Coffee House in Oxford was opened in 1654. Both are still very much in business. Coffee's popularity in Britain has lasted straight through from Oliver Cromwell's time right up to today.

Coffee had been first introduced to Europe in the 1600s. It was brought by Venetian merchants through trade with the Ottoman Empire. The first caf was opened in Venice. Soon coffee houses became popular places for informal socializing and making business connections in cities throughout Europe.

Coffee was sometimes recommended for medicinal purposes. However, there were people who vigorously opposed the drinking of coffee.

Some people thought its stimulant effects were not good for ones health. Some also disliked the trend of people sitting around in coffee houses. They thought the gossip over coffee could lead to mischief and political unrest.

At one time the controversy was so intense that Pope Clement VIII was asked for his advice on the matter of coffee drinking. After tasting a well-brewed cup he gave his approval and pronounced coffee an acceptable beverage.

Though generally thought of as dealing in tea, the British East India Company soon got in on the coffee trade also and did a brisk business in the popular beverage. As a result there were over 3,000 coffee establishments in England by the year 1675.

In England, Italy, Austria and the Netherlands, businessmen gathered at coffee houses. Some of these meetings lead to larger business alliances. The London Stock Exchange started from Jonathan's Coffee House. Lloyds of London was founded out of Edward Lloyds coffee house. It was opened in 1668 and was a popular spot for overseas traders and merchants to get together. Coffee remains one of the most popular drinks, behind only tea and water. On average, 70 million cups of coffee are consumed per day in the United Kingdom. There has been a worldwide boom in coffee interest.

Just as there is wine hobbyists we know see coffee hobbyists. Coffee tastings, called cuppings, and home roasting are growing in popularity. Coffee drinkers can now buy estate coffee beans. These are beans grown on a single estate so they have a distinctive flavour.

Recent research shows that coffee taken in moderation is not bad for one's health. Those who are concerned about too much caffeine consumption can buy gourmet beans or pre-ground coffee that is decaffeinated.

Decaf and instant coffees used to be looked down on by serious coffee enthusiasts, but those days are over.

This article was written on behalf of Whittard of Chelsea. For more information see Coffee tea

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A delicious cup of breakfast tea is a wonderful way to begin a Christmas morning. In fact a flavourful hot beverage such as a black tea or green tea can be a perfect start for any cold, frosty morning. If you are up early you can curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy the warmth from a hot stove or crackling fire. Perhaps it is snowing outside which adds beauty and wonder to the genial mood of the holiday season.

You need time to get your bearings before the rest of the household wakes and the tranquillity is broken. As you relax with your favourite English breakfast tea you can consider which Christmas breakfast recipes you will prepare for your family and friends. There are always many delicious recipes available that it can be difficult to choose which ones you want to try on this special day of the year.

Of course most families enjoy the main Christmas meal a little later in the day, but Christmas breakfast should be special too. In most instances all you will need is a menu that includes a few light and tasteful dishes that will tide people over until the main meal is set on the table. French toast with a topping of spiced peaches and whipped cream will certainly be a hit with your family. The versatility of French toast allows you to personalise this breakfast entre to reflect the mood and colours of the holiday season. Top thick slices of French toast with strawberries, add a touch of whipped topping and then add a dash of colourful green and red sprinkles.

You might consider beginning the morning with a few slices of the succulent, glazed ham that you prepared a day ahead of time. Cooking a glazed ham on Christmas Eve gives this main dish the additional time it needs for the meat to rest and fully develop those incredible flavours. When you are ready for Christmas breakfast you only have to slice the ham, warm the meat and serve it with bread, butter and a piping hot breakfast tea. This is a meal that is certain to tame even the hungriest appetites until the midday or evening meal is served.

A sweet, luxurious treat such as a cinnamon and raisin bread will be the perfect way to begin any Christmas morning. You can easily discover recipes for decadently rich cinnamon and raisin loaf online. When paired with a bold breakfast tea this combination is an ideal choice for any holiday meal. If you want to prepare the cinnamon loaf a few days ahead of time this sweet bread will still have wonderful flavour when you reheat it. You can even freeze the bread and then just slice it and pop the slices of cinnamon and raisin bread into a toaster oven.

Why not consider a delicious fruit loaf and winter compote for your first meal on Christmas Day? It is easy to make this dish ahead of time and then warm it in the oven when your family is awake and ready to eat. Best of all you can pair this dish with a savoury hot drink such as an Irish, Russian or English breakfast tea.

Another savoury Christmas Breakfast recipe that your entire family will enjoy is for croissants stuffed with glazed ham and scrambled eggs. The light texture of the croissant is perfectly matched with the satisfying, bold flavours of the ham and eggs. No matter which breakfast recipes you choose to begin your holiday morning you certainly need to make sure that you select the right accompaniments to the meal.

This article was written on behalf of Whittard of Chelsea. For more information see breakfast tea

Posted under Tea