The Formation of Tea Culture and Its Influence

Introduction

The purpose of this research paper is to illustrate how the culture of British Tea formed and how its influence to the British Society. For British people, it is hard to imagine the day without tea. According to the statistics, almost 80% of the British people drink tea, and tea accounted for 495 million revenues in British pounds. From Royal courts to civilian population, drinking tea has already been a common place. However, Britain does not produce much tea; their massive consumption is heavily relying on the import from Ceylon, India, Kenya and other countries. It is surprising that British almost use the product which is an import from other nations, create their unique cultures and a decency lifestyle- afternoon tea. This bitter and foreign leaves changing the British dietary structure and quiet, dignified social life, profoundly affected the British political, social life, witnessed the history of modern civilization in Britain.

The Formation of Tea Culture

The royal courts, the nobility, and the civilian people act different roles in the formation of tea culture; royal courts are the founder, the nobility is the impellor to inherited, and the civilian people is the followers to carry tea culture forward through Britain. Tea was first introduced to Britain Royals since 1662 years when Princess Catherine of Braganza brought Chinese Tea and Tea set as dowries to Britain. At first, tea was only recognized as a medicine that can cure all disease, but later on, when Princess Catherine adopted English Fashions, she persisted on the cuisine of her native country- drinking tea. Her taste of tea had brought popularity between British Royals and change royal families’ impression of tea from the medicine to an elegant cup of beverage, then spread then spread to the aristocratic circles. (Catherine of Braganza)The British Poet Edmund Waller used to praise Princess Catherine and the decency drinking she brought to Britain. “The best of Queens, and best of herbs, we owe. To that bold nation, which the way did show. To the fair region where the sun doth rise, Whose rich productions we so justly prize.” (Waller, E)

However, when Duchess of Bedford, Anna invented Afternoon Tea in the 19th century, a typical British lifestyle was created, and finally helped tea become a fashion trend prevalent in British Nobility circles, and gradually let more people known about tea. Therefore, we can say that the British Royal Courts was the one who created Tea culture, but British nobility was the person who made it foster and enhanced through British aristocratic circles. At that time, tea was only possessing by a few of people. Since a thing that is valued if it is rare, more people are willing to spend much money to exchange for the vanity, therefore, at that time, tea was represented new consumer cultures and a new lifestyle, a lifestyle that can