Ever wonder how people who make tea for a living drink their afternoon tea? We thought you might be curious, so I took a little survey of my dad (Mike), mom (Brigitte), brother (Alex) and then I surveyed myself. Read on to discover how the Harneys like their afternoon tea!
But first, a little dive into the term “afternoon tea.” Traditionally, in Britain, afternoon tea is the posh tea you envision when you think of a ritual that involves your finest china cups and teapot, little cucumber sandwiches, scones, and macarons. It is often confused with the term “high tea,” but in actuality high tea is a much more informal – that’s right, informal – affair.
High tea began with the English lower class, who didn’t have the luxury of stopping their workday for tea and little sandwiches (fortunately, when you work for a tea company, that activity is not frowned upon). Instead, high tea happened when they got home after work, and it was a combination of tea and supper. Why is it called high tea, you ask? It’s actually because it was typically served at a dining table, so a higher table than those used for afternoon tea, where tea was set on lower tables. For that reason, “afternoon tea” was often called “low tea,” but nowadays, Britons generally refer to their tea rituals simply as “having tea” rather than describing them as either “afternoon tea” or “high tea.”
That said, here’s how members of my family and I take our tea in the afternoons, and what kinds of teas we enjoy. Hope you enjoy reading about it!
Question 1: Do you take tea every afternoon?
- Mike: I taste teas several times a day to make sure they will leave our customers with a smile. Sometimes I will drink tea in the afternoon, but if not, I definitely like my Assam in the mornings.
- Brigitte: Since I work at our Millerton store, I do have tea in the afternoons.
- Alex: I probably have tea three afternoons a week.
- Emeric: Not everyday, more likely three times a week.
Question 2: What time do you take afternoon tea?
- Mike: Let's say 3ish.
- Brigitte: Usually around 4.
- Alex: If I do take tea in the afternoon I’ll drink it around 3 or 4.
- Emeric: Around 2.
Question 3: How do you take your tea?
- Mike: Just a cup of great tasting tea. No milk, no sugar.
- Brigitte: I love my tea as it is. No sugar nor milk for me!
- Alex: Straight or with honey.
- Emeric: Plain! No sugar or milk.
Question 4: What are your favorite blends for afternoon tea?
- Mike: Oolongs - either from Taiwan or Mainland China. So Li Shan or Ti Quan Yin Spring Floral.
- Brigitte: In the fall I love Panyang Congou, Rose Scented or Thai Rooibos.
- Alex: Chamomile, my own special blend (kukicha + soba), or a verveine-based blend. I try not to do too much caffeine in the afternoon, but I’ll never turn down a cup of tea.
- Emeric: For an unflavored black tea, I like Eight at the Fort. Apart from that, I traditionally gravitate to Japanese green teas like Scent of Mountains or Mist of Kawane.
Question 5: Do you have favorite tea treats or snacks that you incorporate?
- Mike: Best not! At 69, my metabolism is not the same.
- Brigitte: Yes, I love to dunk dark chocolate in my tea to soften it!
- Alex: Cookies, always cookies, sometimes nuts.
- Emeric: At home, I usually go for a handful of roasted edamame. My very first trip to China in 2009, Marcus Wulf, one of our main tea suppliers, took me to a tea house in Shanghai and there we were served quail eggs, crispy rice crackers, and roasted nuts. The edamame I have reminds me of that first tea house experience. At the tea shops - I have a hard time saying no to a scone with a smear of clotted cream and jam though!
Question 6: What is your afternoon tea ritual? Alone or with others? Music, reading, or silence? Special location?
- Mike: All by my lonesome. I drink them at my desk, working at my computer in my office (yeah it is a bit terrible).
- Brigitte: With others while at work and visiting family, by myself or with Michael on the weekends at home. I’ll have my tea while reading and listening to music, and my special location would be the sunniest room in the house.
- Alex: Either alone or with others, but generally it's a quiet time to myself. Sometimes I’ll listen to music, but am usually reading or scrolling. My favorite place is in my kitchen with a fire going, but any place will do in a storm.
- Emeric: I usually drink tea alone, as I work from home. I might pick up a book but usually will listen to music. We have a comfy leather sofa in our living room that’s the perfect place to unwind for a moment.
Question 7: What are the benefits of afternoon tea?
- Mike: Time to reenergize to finish the day or drink a cup of a new brew.
- Brigitte: Chance for a peaceful break. Time to reenergize to finish the day. Opportunity to connect with family/friends.
- Alex: Definitely the chance for a peaceful break.
- Emeric: Afternoon tea is a chance for me to freshen up my mind before I get back in front of my computer for work or calls. The smell and taste of the tea paired with a bit of sustenance is a welcome break.
Question 8: What would you say to encourage others to make time for afternoon tea?
- Mike: Be better than me, carve out some time for tea!
- Brigitte: If you can manage an afternoon tea break, at work, on the road or at a hotel, it is a nice way to achieve a feeling of serenity and to recenter yourself.
- Alex: It's worth it, to either break up your day if you can or at least to hydrate, and it can be calming.
- Emeric: Afternoon tea doesn’t need to be a big production, that is unless of course you want it to be. Just making time to warm up your water, brew your tea, letting your senses submit to the brew can bring a sense of calm and happiness.
Question 9: Anything else to share?
- Mike: Now that you have me thinking, maybe I should just carve out some time myself and enjoy!
2 comments
judy k.
now that I drink good, leaf tea all day….and evening, I seldom carve out a special time or brew. But I remember the taste and “relief” and pleasure that a single afternoon cup, NOT mug, brought to a much younger coffee drinker. The tea itself wasn’t as good, but the experience was better. Maybe I’ll try to recreate that……..Thank you for the reminder.
now that I drink good, leaf tea all day….and evening, I seldom carve out a special time or brew. But I remember the taste and “relief” and pleasure that a single afternoon cup, NOT mug, brought to a much younger coffee drinker. The tea itself wasn’t as good, but the experience was better. Maybe I’ll try to recreate that……..Thank you for the reminder.
Jan Schilmoeller
My favorite tea is the flavored cranberry autumn. I drink it in the morning as a pick up and sometimes after lunch. I try not to drink tea too late in the day to avoid the caffeine. Of course I love a cookie with my tea
My favorite tea is the flavored cranberry autumn. I drink it in the morning as a pick up and sometimes after lunch. I try not to drink tea too late in the day to avoid the caffeine. Of course I love a cookie with my tea