BEING A TEACHER....

BEING A TEACHER IS A DIFFICULT TASK NOWADAYS, SO I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THIS PIECE OF ADVICE BY BRUCE LEE:

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

by Bruce Lee

sábado, 6 de febrero de 2016

Afternoon tea: a very British tradition

I have updated one of my most popular entries with new material I have just come across. I hope you find it interesting.


Listening exercise: How would you like your tea? (BBC Learning English, 6 Minute English)


Here's a new activity to do: William Shakespeare telling us a story from the Merchant of Venice   All that glisters is not gold (BBC Learning English, Shakespeare speaks) comes from the expression "all that glitters is not gold"


We have one Selectivity exam about this topic that we will be doing very shortly. Here you have got an interesting article, which the examiner may have based on:




And what is the name of the cake that is on the picture?

And now what is the difference between 'have to' and 'must'?

LINGOHACK  >> 

Episode 160203 / 3 February 2016   >>>> Expressions presented: hailed, hampering, blacklog & prediction.

45 comentarios:

  1. It might well be true that the word “tea” I remember to China or England. Now I had read this article, I am not wrong. I belive that the history of aternoon tea is most interesting because we explains the origin of English costums. Moreover, is very important which the people know the popular traditions of others countries, because we can act correctly.
    Personally, I like drink tea, although I prefer a coffe with biscuits or cupcakes, but… the cake that is on the picture, have good loking. I think that your name is “The Devonshire Cream Tea.”

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  3. I was surprised when I had the Selectivity exam and when I have read this article because I have always think that “Afternoon Tea” was a custom of England, but I never thought that custom of drinking tea was of China. All countries are characterized by some customs like “Afternoon Tea” in England, “Flamenco” and “Paella” in Spain – especially in Andalucía and Valencia, respectively- , the use of “Kimono” in Japan… but these customs aren´t always true. For example, I’m Andalusian and I don’t know to dance “Flamenco” and probably only a few English have the custom of “Afternoon Tea”... but I don’t know because I have never been in England and I don’t have a English friend that can tell me the truth.
    On the other hand, the name of the cake that is on the picture is “Scone” and according to the picture and the article scones was served with clotted cream and preservers.

    Elena de la O López. 2º Bach A

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  4. When a foreigner arrives in Spain, it can be noted that Spaniards have some characteristics customs: The siesta is a custom very present in our country. After lunch, Spaniards are used to resting 15 to 30 minutes.
    But the two most famous traditions in Spain are bullfighting and flamenco. People think we're dancing flamenco all day, although actually there are few Spanish people, particularly Andalusian, who can dance it. Spain also has its typical dishes, such as potato omelette (Spanish omelette),paella , ... and Britain also has its typical customs, like the afternoon tea, in which the tea is accompanied by the cake that is on the picture, a scone. Actually, I don't like either tea or coffee, but occasionally I drink an infusion.

    María Rodríguez Martín 2º Bach, A

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  5. Although the custom of drinking tea comes from China, everyone thinks that comes from England.
    In Spain we have many customs that everyone knows, like “siesta” or flamenco but, many people think that the Spanish are sleeping and dancing flamenco all day and that's not true.
    In England it is the same. I whent to London two years ago but people didn't stop working at five o'clock to eat tea! It would be impossible!
    The cake on the picture is called “scone” and it is a single-serving cake, originally hailing from Scotland. They are usually made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent. I ate it in England but I can not say that it is delicious because I didn't like it!

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  6. In my opinion, tea is good to drink with your friends in the afternoon, bus I prefer drinkin coffe,perhaps because the taste os coffe for me is better and you can combine with other things, for example with cakes and chocolate pastries

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  7. That's incredible how one person can invent a tradition so easily, and unintentionally, it just needs to do something different to be converted in something particular, I think that most of the things we have nowadays have been invented by a person that he didn't probably want to do it.

    It's wonderful that everyone in one country has the same tradition, as if it was something that they have lived, when maybe they don't know how it started, in Spain I think that we haven't got any similar tradition, and it wouldn't be bad, because the family is together and actually the families are very separate and that makes me unhappy.

    I think everywhere is nowadays in a crisis, not only for the money, homeless etc..., but everyone eats very bad food like coca-cola, hamburgers, and it is not right, a lot of people have a high level of cholesterol, and a lot of diseases for this reason, and I'm afraid this is due to bad habits.

    Finally I want to say that I like so much the English culture and it I think it would be an example to follow in the future, It's a good tradition, and I think the photo is a scone.

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  8. I love the tradition of tea, because in my country, Lithuania, is also a very common tradition, especially when members of a family get together to celebrate any party, a birthday, Halloween, Christmas, New Year...
    We took tea next to a cake that is typical of Lithuania called "Sakotis". Here I post a picture for you to take a look >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0akotis

    I have also surprised that the beginning of this tradition country was China more than three centuries because I was believed that the cause of all was England itself.

    I always wanted to go to England and see how is there an afternoon tea.

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  9. When we think of England we automatically think of double-decker buses, the typical red phone booths and also of the afternoon tea. Although it’s a really old tradition and the fact that in England it is drunk much more tea than for example in Spain, it doesn’t mean that every day at five o’clock everybody in England is having a tea. I think it’s just another tradition which has become a cliché like there are in every country or culture. For example in Spain, tourists sometimes don’t understand that we are not dancing flamenco all the time.
    However, next time go to England I want to be like one of these tourists and have a traditional afternoon tea, especially to try some of those great-looking scones like the one in the picture.

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  10. In my opinion I prefer a cup of coffee to a cup of tea.
    I think it's interesting that this traditions is so old, but I don't like either the smell or the taste.
    Between lunch and dinner, I prefer to have a cup of milk or coffee with some toast.

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  11. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  12. English culture looks interesting. Their traditions are well-known all around the world. When you think about England you usually relate it with tea, the red phone booths and the double-decker buses, as Mrs. Anna said.
    From my point of view every culture has some traditions that we would like to learn about. Here in Spain, it's well-known "Paella and Flamenco" because they have become a habit for almost all of us. That's why tourists like tasting "Paella" and trying to learn "Flamenco".
    I'd say that when you visit any country, you should learn some traditions and visit some places, it would be the minimum you should do. However, I am not really into traditions because I don't like much them. If I visit England, I will taste once the afternoon tea with scones with clotted cream and preservers, as we see in the photo. I don't like drinking tea, I prefer a mug of milk with "Cola-cao".

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  13. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  14. What a surprise! Although I don't like the famous British tradition about drinking tea after lunch It's a big surprise that this tradition comes from the ancient China.

    The truth is I don't like traditions because people think that everybody does their country's tradition. For example, In Spain It is thought that everybody dances flamenco and in Germany everybody is thought to drink beer.

    Nowadays traditions are getting less and less followed mostly by young people due to the globalization and the new technologies. Although I don't like them, I think losing all the traditions is not good because they are part of the culture that makes a country.

    José Miguel Ruiz Cano, 2º Bach. A

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  15. I didn't know that the tradition of afternoon tea was originally from China. I thought it was a custom from England.
    Although it seems to be a good tradition, very exquisite and elegant, I'd prefer to take a glass of milk with “Cola-Cao” between lunch and dinner.
    The cake of the photo is a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Must be great!

    By: María Béjar Rodríguez 2º ESO A

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  16. Although I don't like the famous British tradition about drinking tea after lunch It's a big surprise that this tradition comes from the ancient China. From my point of view every culture has some traditions that we would like to learn about. Here in Spain, it's well-known "Paella and Flamenco" because they have become a habit for almost all of us. That's why tourists like tasting "Paella" and trying to learn "Flamenco". I think it’s just another tradition which has become a cliché like there are in every country or culture. For example in Spain, tourists sometimes don’t understand that we are not dancing flamenco all the time. It's wonderful that everyone in one country has the same tradition, as if it was something that they have lived, when maybe they don't know how it started, in Spain I think that we haven't got any similar tradition, and it wouldn't be bad, because the family is together and actually the families are very separate and that makes me unhappy. The cake on the picture is called “scone” and it is a single-serving cake, originally hailing from Scotland. They are usually made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent. I ate it in England but I can not say that it is delicious because I didn't like it!

    ALBERTO ANTEQURA GONZÁLEZ 2ºB

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  17. When we travel to a foreign country, we always think that everyone live following the traditions associated with their country, for example, when we think of Japan, we have the image of women with kimonos, in the United States we think that they only eat hamburgers, or in Spain, tourists think that everybody dance flamenco and eat paella. However, many of these traditions aren't originally from the country to which they are associated.

    I have been very surprised when I've read that the afternoon tea doesn't come from England, but from China. I thought that this tradition came from the Queen of England, as I once read in a travel guide that everything started because the queen had the habit of inviting her friends to a tea in the afternoon.

    I really love this tradition because I love tea, and I normally drink it in the morning or in the afternoon. In Spain's supermarkets there are many varieties of tea, but I think that the best tea is the English tea. I have never tasted a tea with so flavor and that was so good. I'm looking forward to going to England to buy a some tea at a specialised shop!!

    Finally, I want to tell people who don't like tea, that not only does the traditional tea exist, but there are also many different kinds of tea, such as candy tea, chocolate tea, green tea, red fruit tea, orange tea... Besides, I've read that experts recommend drinking tea because it contains antioxidants that are good to cells.

    Clara Prados. 2ºBACH B.

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  18. I always believed that the custom of afternoon tea was English and I can not imagine a Chinese drinking tea at 17:00 pm. In Spain we have the habit of drinking coffee or tea after lunch but there is no fixed time. Although young people like me take a cool glass of Nesquik, but other people take a drink.

    Some older people have a habit of having a beer with one tapa before lunch, but I think the best Spanish custom is "the siesta", and nobody can say it's not a Spanish custom.

    Paola Ruiz Fernández 3º ESO A

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  19. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  20. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  21. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  22. I'm very surprised, because I thought that 'Afternnon tea' was an English custom. I didn't think this custom came from China.

    A lot of people like tea and do 'Afternoons tea', especially in England. Some people like having a cup of coffee. Others like both. I don't like coffee or tea. I prefer a glass of cold milk with some biscuits or a piece of toast. This is popular in Spain! It's also popular in Spain to have and ice-cream in summer or a glass of hot milk in winter, after lunch.

    In the photo, we can see a scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. A scone is a single round biscuit that originally came from Scotland and it's typical of British cuisine, although I prefer other desserts, like three chocolates cake. I reckon it is as popular as scones.

    Maria Jose Garcia 3ºA

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  23. I think that this traditions it have very years .
    In Andalucia there are very traditions,for example,"flamenco" "siesta" and others; in other cities they have other thing,for example,in China ,they usually wear "kimono".
    In my opinion ,after read this article I prefer coffee to a cup of tea,because the coffe you can combine with cake,biscuit...

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  24. When a foreigner arrives in Spain, it can be noted that Spaniards have some characteristics customs: The siesta is a custom very present in our country. I have been very surprised when I've read that the afternoon tea doesn't come from England, but from China. I thought that this tradition came from the Queen of England, as I once read in a travel guide that everything started because the queen had the habit of inviting her friends to a tea in the afternoon. The cake on the picture is called “scone” and it is a single-serving cake, originally hailing from Scotland. They are usually made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent. I ate it in England but I can not say that it is delicious because I didn't like it!

    ALBERTO ANTEQUERA GONZÁLEZ 3ºESO B

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  25. I thought the customs to drink tea in the afternoon was originary of England.
    The spanish customs are for examples: picnic in the afternoon although everyone not to do it.
    Also to drink caffee or milk.
    The spanish custom is to drinking wine while we eat.
    The cake of the photo is a scone with strawberry jam and mild cheese.
    Sure it is deliciuse!

    Patricia Rodríguez Martín 3ESO A

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  26. The afternoon tea or low tea is one of the most representative British customs. This custom dates back to the early nineteenth century and it is attributed to Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford. In this century, people didn't eat until nine o'clock, and as the Duchess was hungry in the afternoon, she decided that the servants had to put her a tea with toast and sweets. Since them, it was already a custom of drinking tea with cakes all afternoons. This is the story of the beginning of this custom. What an interesting story!!

    I think every country has its customs and they are all very beautiful and interesting. For example, in Spain the "paella" and flamenco, in England the "afternoon tea" in Japan the use of kimono,in Marruecos the use veil ..... I think we have to respect all customs, although they may be rare, because many people make fun of customs of other countries.

    On the other hand, I think the name of the picture's cake is Scone. These scones are made with flour, yeast, icing sugar, salt, unsalted butter, eggs, milk and cherries or raspberry. I don't really like tea or coffee, but I think they are very good for health and most of peple in Spain should take them.

    Joaquín Alejandro España Sánchez 4ESO.B

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  27. Each of the countries of the world has different traditions. In the word, one of the most famous traditions of England is taking tea at 5pm.
    First, some of the people I know who have visited England say it's normal to find everything you need to make tea in the room of any hotel. It is curious because it seems that all thosethat stay at the hotel have tea as if they were British.
    Moreover, it is common to find many varieties of tea in supermarkets in our country and it seems that this tradition has spread.
    Finally, I believe that each country has its own traditions but I also believe that all people don´t practice, for example in Spain but not all the people dance Flamenco why we are known abroad.

    Antonio Peregrina Martínez 2º ESO A

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  28. Afternoon tea from China? It's impossible! I always think that this custom was originally from England, this tradition was popularised in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife Infanta Catherine de Braganza.

    I think that this tradition is like the 'Paella' in Spain; especially in Andalucía and Valencia where a lot of people don't eat 'Paella', so in England it's the same, the most people like drinking the afternoon tea, but there are a lot of people that don't like drinking this tea at 5pm.

    To sum up, each countries of the world have different tradition, and one of themost famous traditions is the afternoon tea in England.

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  29. The story of tea begins in China. According to legend, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting under a tree while his servant boiled drinking water, when some leaves from the tree blew into the water.

    The introduction of tea to Europe was done by the Dutch .Tea soon became a fashionable drink, and from there spread to other countries, but because it was expensive it remained a drink for the wealthy.

    Afternoon tea was popularised in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza.This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880's upper-class and society women wore long dresses, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served four and five o'clock. Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of sandwiches, and scones served with clotted cream.

    Nowadays however, in the majority of the houses, afternoon tea is just a biscuit or small cake and a mug of tea, usually using a teabag. I don’t like tea very much, but I’m going to taste one!!! Especially with some biscuits!!

    MARGARITA LLANES VENEGAS 4ºA

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  30. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  31. HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS TEA

    You will need: A cup, water, milk, tea bags, tea cups, a keetle and sugar.

    First, you boil some water and put it in the keetle to warm it, and throw out the water. Then you put some milk in it.

    Then you boil some water and put it in a cup and you put a tea bag in it.

    After a time, you put the tea in the keetle with the milk and you cover it. Live it for three minutes.

    Now is already to serve. Serve it in a tea cup and add it some sugar. Drink and enjoy!

    People have tea for wake up, before ljnch, after lunch, at tea time, at night ore at all time! So make an sweet tea and enjoy it.

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  32. THE RECIPE OF A SPECIAL TEA

    The ingredients to make a delicious tea are : tea bags, milk,sugar and water. You will also need a cup and a teapot or a kettle.
    Firstly , you boíl some water in a recipient, then you cover it. Secondly, you warm the teapot or the kettle and you put milk. After that, you put a tea bag in the teapot or the kettle. Thirdly, you leave it for 3 minutes and you add sugar in the teapot as you like. Finally, you put the tea in the cup, drink and enjoy!

    Leonardo Maldonado Castro 1º ESO A.

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  33. (corrected)

    HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS TEA

    You will need: A cup, some water, some milk, tea bags, tea cups, a keetle and some sugar.

    First, you boil some water and put some into the tea pot to warm it, and throw out the water. Then you put some milk in it.

    Then you boil some water with the kettle and put it in a cup and you put a tea bag in it.

    After some time, pour the tea into the tea pot with the milk and you cover it. Leave it for three minutes.

    Now is ready to be served. Pour into a tea cup and add some sugar. Drink and enjoy!

    People have tea to wake up, before lunch, after lunch, at tea time, at night, at all times! So make yourself a sweet cup of tea and enjoy it.

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  34. British people usually have tea on a cup or a mug, here are the steps to do a tea:
    1º.You must to boil some water in a kettle
    2º.When the water is boil you must put the tea bags inside the teapot
    3º.Take a cup and put in some milk and some sugar, don´t put other tea bag inside
    4º.Put the tea in a teapot, cover it and leave for three minuts.
    5º.Put the tea in the cup and have it.
    I don´t like the tea, and you, Do you like the tea?

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  35. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  36. Here are the steps to making tea:
    1ºHeat the water
    2ºHeat the teapot
    3ºAdd tea leaves to the kettle.
    4ºHeat the water again.
    5ºLeave to rest 5 minutes for a softer tea and 10 minutes for a stronger tea
    6ºOnce rested it is served directly in the cups
    I like tea,and you,Do you like the tea?

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  37. Here are the steps to making tea:
    1 Boil the water.
    2 Preheat the place where you go to place the tea.
    3 Place the tea in an infuser, strainer or directly into the bottom of the teapot.
    4 Add hot water.
    5 Leave tea on infusion.
    6 Remove the tea leaves.
    7 It serves.

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  38. There are the steps to do the tea like the Brtish people:
    1º.You must boil water in a kettle
    2º.Take a container where do you put the tea
    3º.Put the water in a teapot and add the tea bags
    4º.Put milk in a cup and some sugar
    5º.Pour the tea in the cup and have it
    I don´tlike tea but my mother´s like it

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  39. these is the steps for make a tea.
    Use freshly drawn water. When water is re-boiled, or stands for a while, it loses oxygen which prevents the full flavor of the tea being released.

    Warm the pot first. This helps the brewing process by maintaining the brewing temperature for longer so to extract more flavor from the tea.

    Be sure to use boiling water to make the tea. Water which is "off the boil" does not allow the tea to brew properly.

    Brew for 3-5 minutes. Shorter times will not reveal the full flavor and the quality of the tea. Longer brewing will result in a bitter tasting tea as Tannin will start to be extracted from the tea leaves.

    Stir the tea in the pot once or twice while it is brewing.

    For tea bags the same directions apply as for loose tea. You will get best results brewing in a pot. If you brew in a cup brew for a much shorter time, 1 - 2 minutes.
    JOEL MARTÍN LOZANO 1ºB E.S.O.

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  40. Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.

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  41. HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS TEA

    You will need: A cup, water, milk, tea bags, tea cups, a keetle and sugar.

    First, you boil some water and put it in the keetle to warm it, and throw out the water. Then you put some milk in it.

    Then you boil some water and put it in a cup and you put a tea bag in it.

    After a time, you put the tea in the keetle with the milk and you cover it. Live it for three minutes.

    Now is already to serve. Serve it in a tea cup and add it some sugar. Drink and enjoy!

    People have tea for wake up, before ljnch, after lunch, at tea time, at night ore at all time! So make an sweet tea and enjoy it.


    Natalia López Carrascosa 1ºB

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  42. A PERFECT CUP OF TEA

    YOU WILL NEED:
    _A cup
    _ Some milk
    _Tea bags
    _A kettle
    _Some sugar (all you want)

    PREPARATION

    First, you put the water into kettle.Later, switch on the kettle and you wait until it is hot and it boils.

    You turn off the kettle and pour the boiling water into the teapot.

    In a cup you put some milk and now put the tea.

    Finally you put some sugar in it (all you need)

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  43. How to make Tea
    First heat the water
    Second heat the teapot
    Third add tea leaves to the kettle
    Fourth heat the water again
    Fifth leave to rest 5 minutes for a softer tea and 10 minutes for a stronger tea
    Sixth once rested it is served directly in the cups
    Do you like TEA

    Alex Garcia 1ºD

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  44. The Afternoon Tea is a ritual which started in Britain in the early 1840's. It's purpose was to stem the hunger between two main meals, lunch and the evening meal which back then was served around 8 pm. In the early years the Afternoon Tea was separated into two categories: one was the regular Afternoon Tea and the other one was called High Tea. The difference between these was differentiating two social classes, the upper society and the working class.

    The name of High Tea was given for the reason that this meal was served at the table, while the posh Afternoon Tea was served while seating on low comfortable chairs. However, this was only the beginning, as the Afternoon Tea has come a long way to become what it is today and it's in continuing change and improvement.


    Nicolás Benitez 1ºBACH

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