The Comparison of Tea Culture Between China and Britain Lecturer: Mona Ss 动手做简易三明治，边喝茶吃点心边听课

The Origins and Development Contents 01 The Origins and Development 02 Variety and Tea Set 03 Cultural Connotation

The Origins and Development of Tea

In China In ancient times. In the Western Han Period 2700 years ago, the ancient time of the Holy Farmer In ancient times. In the Western Han Period In the three Kingdoms Period

In Britain It came late until Stuart Dynasty.(1603-1713) The long process of the change from East to West. In 1800, the tea was instead of the main drinking coffee.

Victoria Tea “维多利亚下午茶” 源于维多利亚时期的下午茶演变为一种社交文化 Anna

a magical drinking in Han Dynasty The Development In China: Functions the treatment of pain a kind of medicine herb food used as a vegetable a drink a magical drinking in Han Dynasty

In Britain: From the 17th century, the habit of drinking tea has formed to British people. The formal “ low tea”. The formal “ British Black Tea Culture”.

Who drinks it? In China: a group of high-level scholars common people In Britain: the priority classes the rich gentlemen the beauty in high classes

Tea Variety and Tea Sets Different species of tea Tea sets

white tea 白茶 scented tea 花茶 yellow tea 黄茶 dark tea 黑茶 Chinese tea green tea 绿茶 black tea 红茶 white tea 白茶 scented tea 花茶 yellow tea 黄茶 dark tea 黑茶 British tea Mainly black tea 红茶

Chinese tea sets (most commonly used) shale tea set 泥质茶具 porcelain tea set 瓷质茶具 glass tea set 玻璃茶具 vacuum cup 保温杯 British tea sets silver tea set 银质茶具

Differences between the two tea culture drinking spots Different drinking time

Drinking spots teahouse tea garden / tea party/ picnic tea Drinking time Chinese way nothing special British early morning tea breakfast tea tea break afternoon tea high tea after dinner tea

Afternoon tea & high tea in Britain

Afternoon Tea --2:00pm to 5:00pm This is a small meal snack Origination The custom of afternoon tea originated in England in the 1840s. At the time, the various classes in England had a divergence(分歧) in their eating habits.

The upper classes typically ate luncheon at about midday and dinner at 8:00 pm or later, while the lower classes ate dinner at about 11:00 am and then a light supper at around 7:00 pm. For both groups, afternoon tea filled a gap in the meals. The custom spread throughout the British Empire and beyond in succeeding decades.

Content Traditionally, loose tea is brewed in a teapot and served with milk and sugar. The sugar and caffeine of the concoction provided fortification against afternoon doldrums(精神不振) for the working poor of 19th and early 20th century England who had a significantly lower calorie count and more physically demanding occupation than most westerners today. concoction英[kənˈkɒkʃn]美[kənˈkɑ:kʃn]n.混合; 调合; 调合物

Freshly baked scones served with cream and jam (Known as a cream tea)

Afternoon tea sandwiches - thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

Assorted pastries 什锦糕点

In hotels and tea shops the food is often served on a tiered stand; there may be no sandwiches, but bread or scones with butter or margarine(人造黄油) and optional jam or other spread, or toast, muffins or crumpets.

Afternoon Tea today Afternoon tea is not common these days because most adults go out to work. Changes in social customs and working hours mean that most 21st Century Britons will rarely take afternoon tea, if at all. However, you can still have Afternoon tea at the many tea rooms around England.

High Tea --5:00pm to 7:00pm An early evening meal , largely followed by a lighter meal later in the evening. Origination High tea was eaten by middle to upper class children (whose parents would have a more formal dinner later) or by labourers, miners and the like when they came home from work.

The term was first used around 1825 and high is used in the sense of well-advanced (like high noon, for example) to signify that it was taken later in the day.

Content Traditionally eaten early evening, High tea was a substantial meal that combined delicious sweet foods, such as scones, cakes, buns or tea breads, with tempting savouries(开胃菜), such as cheese on toast(干酪土司), toasted crumpets, cold meats and pickles on toast(冷盘和腌汁士) or poached eggs on toast(荷包蛋多士).

High Tea today This meal is now often replaced with a supper due to people eating their main meal in the evenings rather than at midday.

Distinguishment Afternoon tea was served in the garden where possible; otherwise it was usually taken in a day room, library or salon where low tables (like a coffee table) were placed near sofas or chairs generally (hence the fallacy about it being low tea).

The term “high tea” was used as a way to distinguish it from afternoon tea. Though it is often stated that the words "low" and "high" refer to the height of the tables from which either meal was eaten, the term for the later meal actually relates to the usage of "high" as the meaning of the most important part of a particular time.

Small conclusion Nowadays, a formal afternoon tea is usually taken as a treat in a hotel or tea shop. In everyday life, many Britons take a much simpler refreshment consisting of tea (and occasionally biscuits) as one of many short tea breaks throughout the day.

Differences of Cultural Connotation China Britain vs 英国文化中存在一股强大的向上的价值取向。因而，无论什么时间、什么场合，英国人总竭力展示自己的最佳状态，不敢有丝毫的怠慢和敷衍。喝下午茶自然也不例外——环境一定要优雅舒适，衣着一定到典雅得体，茶点一定要高档精致，待客一定要体贴周到。一顿真正的下午茶仿佛变成了一场时尚的社交盛宴，主人不敢有丝毫马虎，客人也是小心翼翼，一定要穿着时下最流行的服饰赴会，否则稍有差池，便会招来嘲讽。

Economic Foundation 1 Cultural Background 2

Tea Culture in China “开门七件事，茶米油盐酱醋茶”

Chinese Economic Foundation Traditional cultivation culture Everything is related to nature. Green and natural feeling The shape, colour and smell of the tea put you into nature and make you feel comfortable and happy.

Chinese Cultural Background Chinese philosophical thoughts are deep-rooted in traditonal cultivation culture. (Confucianism, "harmony between man and nature") Refined scholars love tea. Tea: a symbol of not seeking fame and wealth, of tranquility, of recovering to the simple and coming to the nature.

Tea Culture in Britain

British Economic Foundation Industrial civilization Try to find out the arcanum from nature and master it, then promote the economic and social development. arcanum英[a:'keɪnəm]美[a:'keɪnəm]n.秘密，奥秘

British Cultural Background The core value of the Western courntries: Individualism. Tea culture starting from noble class, a little bit recherche, complicated manners. The host will make elaborate tea and dessert, wearing fine clothes, to show their taste, respect, top grand life style, and to gain mental satisfaction. recherche英[rəˈʃeəʃeɪ]美[ˌrəʃerˈʃeɪ]adj.矫揉造作的; 精选的; <法>罕有的; 太讲究的网络异国风味的; 讲究的 英国文化中存在一股强大的向上的价值取向。因而，无论什么时间、什么场合，英国人总竭力展示自己的最佳状态，不敢有丝毫的怠慢和敷衍。喝下午茶自然也不例外——环境一定要优雅舒适，衣着一定到典雅得体，茶点一定要高档精致，待客一定要体贴周到。一顿真正的下午茶仿佛变成了一场时尚的社交盛宴，主人不敢有丝毫马虎，客人也是小心翼翼，一定要穿着时下最流行的服饰赴会，否则稍有差池，便会招来嘲讽。

Conclusion Tea is a symbol of culture. Different tea culture reflects different cultural systems, historic backgrounds and values. We need to accept differences and appreciating similarities.

Thank you !