Tag: Afternoon tea

Who is credited with the creation of afternoon tea?

1. Queen Victoria
2. Catharine of Braganza
3. The Duchess of Bedford
4. Queen Elizabeth I
5. British East India Company

Answer: 3

Anna Maria Stanhope, the Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s lady-in-waiting, is credited with the creation of afternoon tea.  At the time, dinner was served very late.  She asked to be served afternoon tea to tie over the hunger.

Who is credited with the invention of tea bags?

1. Duchess of Bedford
2. Sir Thomas Lipton
3. Mr. Thomas Sullivan
4. Second Earl Grey

Answer: 3

Thomas Sullivan was a New York tea and coffee merchant during the early 1900’s.  Merchants used to send tea samples in tins.  Thomas Sullivan decided to send the samples in paper packages to cut cost.  The customers who received the sample, instead of troubling themselves with taking the tea out of the package, decided to put the entire package with paper into hot water.  Sullivan started marketing tea bags after realizing this new way of brewing tea.

Check out the delicious shortbread cookies on the Cookies page for your next afternoon tea party or as a favor for your next shower!

Why was the phrase “dish of tea” used in the old times?

1. People used to store their tea in a bowl like a dish
2. People used to slurp tea out of the saucer dish
3. People used to prepare tea with such delicacies as though with a dish

Answer: 2

Believe it or not, during the Victorian time, people used to pour their tea into the saucer to cool the tea and drink from the saucer dish.  During that time, the tea cups did not have handles and therefore could burn the fingers.  As a result, people would pour their tea into the saucer dish instead of holding the cup.

Check out the Scones and Cookies pages.  These sweet delicious items go perfectly with a wonderful cup of hot tea!

Where does the phrase “tea and sympathy” come from?

1. People used to serve tea during the time of grief
2. A story based on a tea shop owned by a lady named “Sympathy”
3. A play relating to lending a sympathetic ear to a friend
4. A music group named “Tea and Sympathy”

The answer: 3

This phrase is based on the 1953 stage play “Tea and Sympathy” by Robert Anderson.

Which 4 countries are the top tea producing countries?

1. China
2. Japan
3. Turkey
4. India
5. Sri Lanka
6. Kenya

Answer: China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

Based on data collected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, these 4 countries ranked as the highest tea producing countries in 2008 in the above order.

Check out some delicious shortbread cookies made with these tea on the Cookie page of this site!

Which language did the word “cookie” derive from?

1. French
2. Dutch
3. Italian
4. Russian

The answer: 2

The word “cookie” derives from the Dutch word “koekie” which means little cake.

What are the four categories of tea?

– Green
– White
– Red
– Darjeeling
– Herbal
– Oolong
– Black

Answer: White, Green, Oolong, and Black

Chinese refer to Black tea as Red tea because of the color of the brew. Dargeeling is a type of Black tea. Herbal tea very often does not use tea leaves at all and therefore is not considered a tea.

How did the term “High Tea” come about?

1. It was consumed at a dining table which is higher than a tea/coffee table
2. It was originally for royalties
3. It was consumed later in the afternoon

The answer: 1

The term “high tea” came about because people took it at a dining table which is higher than the normal tea or coffee table.  It is usually accompanied by savory foods with complete with meats, scones, dessert and tea.  It was consumed later in the evening between 5 PM and 7 PM as a supper.