With this work I have learned a lot. I didn’t know anything about the history of this tradition and with this work I learned how the five o’clock tea became a British tradition. I also learned some recipes and new vocabulary.

I enjoyed doing this work very much because  it wasn’t just a boring Powerpoint work or a Word work , it was an interesting research work.

Tea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company. It was an expensive product and one only for the rich and often kept under lock and key.

Here is some history…. Back to the 19th century in Bedford, the Duchess Anna started to ask her servants to bring her some tea and food to eat between the main meals of the day, breakfast and dinner. She took to the idea so much that she started to invite guests for five o`clock tea. Queen Victoria started organizing her own afternoon teas, these became really formal occasions, known as tea receptions. These were generally appointments between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and could include up to 200 guests. They were wearing the proper clothes for this occasion.

The tradition of the afternoon tea is still very much alive in England. Both in London and in other English cities you can find many places where you can taste the real essence of 5 o'clock tea. It is included savory and sweet food like scones with clotted cream and jam, sandwiches, sweet cakes and pastries. It's an enjoyable part of the day. 

Here is some history…. Back to the 19th century in Bedford, the Duchess Anna started to ask her servants to bring her some tea and food to eat between the main meals of the day, breakfast and dinner. She took to the idea so much that she started to invite guests for five o`clock tea. Queen Victoria started organizing her own afternoon teas, these became really formal occasions, known as tea receptions. These were generally appointments between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and could include up to 200 guests. They were wearing the proper clothes for this occasion. 

I liked doing this work very much because it wasn’t a boring one like a Power Point but a work where we had to use creativity and do a little bit of everything like search for information.

I also learned a lot with this work. I learned new vocabulary , new information…

This work also increased my general culture. 

In England, the most important meals of the day were breakfast and dinner, which was served around 8pm.

Anna, Seventh Duchess of Bedford, felt hungry in the afternoon, so in 1840 she asked her servants to prepare tea and something sweet to eat. Soon, she started calling her friends to share the moment and soon created a tradition. 

Many people don't know but this tradition existed in Portugal. It was Catarina de Bragança, daughter of King João IV who took this custom to England when she married King Charles II of England.

Nowadays the habit of having a mid-afternoon snack with tea, bread and sweets remains intact, with less or more formality.