Britain has always been a traditionally romantic country, where tea, generally black tea, is the bestseller. Most British people enjoy drinking black tea, so what is the origin of British tea culture?

The origin of British tea culture has been linked to royalty from the very beginning. In 1662, Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess who married King Charles II, known as the "Tea-Drinking Queen," included 221 pounds of black tea and exquisite Chinese tea sets in her dowry. In an era when black tea was as valuable as silver, the queen's elegant example of tea drinking led the nobility to eagerly follow suit. It wasn't until 1826, when the British accidentally discovered wild tea trees covering the mountains in northern India, that tea leaves became cheaper than beer. From then on, tea became popular almost throughout Britain, from Dover in England to Aberdeen in Scotland.

The origin of British tea culture continues to influence people's daily routines even today. The British start each day with tea and end each day with tea, happily repeating this tea-centric rhythm of life. Early in the morning, upon opening their eyes, they enjoy a cup of "early morning tea" in bed; another cup follows at breakfast.

"Breakfast tea," also known as eye-opener tea, is a blend of black teas carefully selected from India, Ceylon, and Kenya. It has a rich aroma and is most suitable for enjoyment after waking up in the morning. Paired with bacon, sausages, and eggs, it is a strong tea blend that can cut through grease. No matter how busy the morning is, there must be a 20-minute pause for a sip of "tea break"; before leaving work, it's the法定 time for tea and sweets (afternoon tea). At this time, Earl Grey tea, with its distinctive aroma, becomes the first choice. Earl Grey tea is based on Chinese tea, blended with bergamot, smelling fragrant and tasting not too strong. After returning home, before dinner, there is another formal tea with cold cuts and savory items (High tea); before bed, the "nightcap tea" is essential.

The above covers the origin of British tea culture. Additionally, Britain has various tea-related activities, such as numerous tea parties, garden tea parties, and picnic tea parties for weekend outings.