The Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

[GodOfUnbelief]

who would want milk in tea? ugh

[taritrott]

Well explained

[duhfudder]

@tyreselondon

@marijavera1075

While tea is definitively English and originated from China, I'm certain it is possible for 'even' an American to learn, understand and teach the practice.

[tyreselondon]

Soooo someone tell me why an earth an American trying to teach me (an English man) how to make afternoon tea ?!

[marijavera1075]

@tyreselondon i dont know i think she looks kinda Chinese to me :)

[pinksunflower100]

i perfer hunny in my tea rather then sugar.

[duhfudder]

@pinksunflower100

Etiquette always defers to necessity.

[AttinghamParkTV]

For a great day out visit Attingham Park in Shropshire. This regency mansion, one of the busiest National Trust properties in the country, is now the first to have it's own dedicated Youtube channel. Please enjoy our videos and subscribe for more!

** Latest Video about Afternoon Tea in the heart of our Regency Mansion **

[Microglia1]

where do I find a complete list of these tea "accouterments"?

[gonslow00783]

Apparently the reason it is working class to add milk first is that back in the day,if you couldnt afford china cups the hot water would crack the cups, so they would add milk first then hot water. if you could afford a china cup then you didnt need to worry about this so added milk last. There is no such thing as scalded milk, you can get different taste depending on how much you strain the tea bag,( or how many you put in the pot) or what type and how much milk you use and how fresh it is.

[lovemypeke1]

Just curious. When can one remove one's dentures prior to taking tea? Before adding milk or just after stirring silently? Also, where on the table setting is it appropriate to rest one's denture plate? To the left or to the right? Also, does one remove it while in full view of one's guests, or does one duck down and remove them discreetly? I'm going to tea with my mother and she's always taking out her teeth.

[duhfudder]

@lovemypeke1

Denture removal in all it's colourful faux pas will be treated in much the same manner as excessive flatulence i.e. it will be politely ignored but privately commented upon. Unless the culprit, with due respect to your mother, is either educated by a coach or by a loved one (you) she may find the invitations to Teas will diminish.

[udon890]

Do you add sugar in the tea first, then add milk in the tea after ? Okay, do not make any noise when stirring the tea with the spoon, right ?

[duhfudder]

@udon890

Take the hint from the usual clarification i.e. "Milk or sugar?". A choice between the two is the expected response but if both are insisted upon, milk then sugar.

[SuperStreetG]

ill have a JACK Daniels!

[hatstalker]

Etiquette dictates that one should add milk before the tea goes in. By not doing so you are not trusting your host's competence at tea brewing. As for the napkin in the saucer that is a disgrace.

Those are the two things that I have picked up. However most of this is right.

I am from an old traditional family in England where afternoon tea is the done thing on weekends. I liked most of the video!

[fbalter]

Heresy! Pouring the milk after the tea?! A drop of milk first, then tea!

[EbsNhexz]

Tea is working class, loose the bastardising etiquette.

[coltsuperocean10]

....what a load of fuckin bullshit!! You can drink tea when you want and how you want!! ...since when did you become the tea expert?

[poosaypirate]

@coltsuperocean10 you can also scrape ur ass on the street after you take a shit instead of using toilet paper, IF YOU WANT

[coltsuperocean10]

@poosaypirate ...is that what you do? hahahahaha loser!

[poosaypirate]

@coltsuperocean10 *yawn*

[srinivaskari]

reading the comments below...most people seem to find it stupid to be told how to drink tea.....I had this thing in my head that westerners were very well groomed people and have very high etiquette standards....guess its wrong.......they're no different from people in other parts of the world

[BackInsight]

You must have self confidence when having afternoon tea. Feel quietly self assured.

[ericalanae89]

never drink tea from the saucer lol, really? this is common sense

[crushed51]

The simple fact that it NEEDS to have been said means that SOME EVEN BIGGER MORON has already TRIED to everything she warned you folks about, so please less of the name calling. She is simply doing he best to help people who as yet have not experienced "Tea" of any kind, be it afternoon, full, or high.. Just because YOU happen to know what to do, doesn't mean EVERYBODY does.

[PurpleFairyWings]

everything she said is painfully obvious... who the fuck would pour tea back into the cup in a formal situation? that woman is a fucking moron

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta thats American at least you were right at the beginning

[50Violetta]

@poosaypirate - And you, you deficient, are simply that.

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta oh gee, a name -calling-American.

oooh.

ahh.

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta well, coming from you ................ eeeeeeeeeeeee!

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta EWWWWWWWWWWW!

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta And i meant you, not the topic

[50Violetta]

@poosaypirate - Well, you can just go back into that cave from whence you came you hairy-backed creature.

[poosaypirate]

@50Violetta  you know im right so just eat it

[argiemaline]

OH MY GOD, CHILL WITH THE HEAD MOVEMENTS!

[Shiftee88]

This is gay.Just bung the kettle on and get a hot cuppa down u. Maybe stick a Rich Tea buiscut in it. Simples

[zina20002]

discoverislam com

[Flaky1990]

bloody idiots!

[JennelleBelle]

these vids are alctually helpful. im a philly girl who was born rough, smokes, drinks and has tattooes. well, i landed me a rich fiancee and felt i gotta clean it up a bit and watch these videos displaying people i normally cant fucking stand.

is marrying money worth completely changing yourself over? im starting to feel its not even worth it.

[thepaintedbottle]

OMG...milk is ALWAYS in the cup FIRST,then the tea...

Tacky americam

[MrTerryKay]

@thepaintedbottle

It depends if we are talking the correct traditional way or just snorting tea from out of a plastic cup. When slobbing informally, I slosh the tea in first, then add milk to the strength required. That's not the correct traditional method that I'd expect here though.

[thepaintedbottle]

@MrTerryKay no no no,it depends on none of that. Tea is Tea. Milk first, and don't stir the steeping pot EVER.

[michjessy]

ohh I drink my tea from the saucer damn it!!! hahahah

[poosaypirate]

@michjessy from the floor or do yo u just put it on the table and lower your head and slurp sluprp?

[xqeenx]

what hideous cups and teapot. where is the sterling silver?!?! ;) my sensibilities are offended.

[itsmando]

omg.. who knew drinking tea in a snooty way was a career...

[researchfiend]

well done. It goes over the obvious which we never really hear about. Thanks!

[adams308]

omfg this lady looks annoying

[Sugarlips999xxx]

God how pathetic...next it'll be showing you how to wipe your own arse ( Y )

[poosaypirate]

@Sugarlips999xxx anxiously awaiting your vid !

[Sugarlips999xxx]

@poosaypirate Thanks lol...I will need to fix my computer first

[poosaypirate]

@Sugarlips999xxx anxiously awaiting your input... well- output?

[Sugarlips999xxx]

@poosaypirate Thanks...I can't wait for it too...I have so many ideas...I have to go out and buy and new camera as the web cam is not good quality...I hope I can edit it accordingly without it being rocket science.

[sallyinlancs]

ALWAYS pour the milk first. Otherwise the milk will scald as it hits such a large quantity of hot tea.

[otacs2]

@sallyinlancs Never pour the milk first! People used to pour the milk first because they thought that their china could break because of the hot tea, this means you can't afford new china (Point of view of rich people in England) It's not polite to think that your host is poor (according to Amy Groskamp-Ten Have)

[sallyinlancs]

@otacs2 No, the milk is poured first otherwise it will be scalded by the hot tea and the flavour becomes tainted. MILK FIRST!! It has nothing to do with potentially breaking china. It's all about the flavour.

[poosaypirate]

@otacs2 ok but alternately (in nthis vid=?) ive heard it depends on the actual kind of china, EG if its BONE china, ( which is extra thin) then its more fragile.

[ornitorrinco01]

@sallyinlancs I really can't see how it makes any difference. If the milk will scald if you pour the tea first then it will also scald if you pour the milk first and then add the hot tea to it.

[sallyinlancs]

@ornitorrinco01 adding a small quantity of cool liquid to a large quantity of hot liquid will scald the cold liquid.

If you pour the milk first, as you add the tea, it warms the milk up more gradually, therefore avoiding scalding the milk.

[ornitorrinco01]

@sallyinlancs Either way you will not scald the milk. In order to scald milk and denature the protiens and thus alter the flavour you need to heat it to almost boiling point, adding the milk to hot tea will not do that. As a regular tea drinker I have drunk tea both with the milk added first and with it added last. Either way there is absolutely no discernable difference in flavour, except perhaps in one's imagination.

[sallyinlancs]

@ornitorrinco01 we'll have to agree to disagree. In my opinion, adding a small amount of milk to very hot, almost boiling water and tea, will scald the milk and taint the tea. That's how it's done in my country anway. I'm from England.

[tinotinotere]

@sallyinlancs the upper class consider this to be only done by commoners and is poor etiquette. fyi

[NimbleGeeza]

I like to club myself senseless with the tea cup after I have finished drinking, grinding the broken edge into my face for an extra heavy buzz, sweeeet !

[mlkths]

@NimbleGeeza OMG LLLOOOOOOOOLLLL perfect end for an afternoon tea, isn't it?

[ArionaMew]

@EmilyBehm99 That wasn't a literal prayer. The phrase, "God help me" only means that potentially difficult things are ahead.

[niliap]

I thought you were supposed to add the tea to the milk not the milk to the tea as you will scald the milk if you add it to the boling tea, that was what my great Grandmother taught me.

Along with Warming the pot and turning the pot, plus never use tea bags!

[poosaypirate]

@niliap i think your grandmother had an excellent point actually.. stick with that id say but continue doing etiquette research on the topic, it always seems so superficial b ut its actually interesting

[ArionaMew]

I'm going to end up going to England from the US.... God help me.

[EmilyBehm99]

@ArionaMew But I thought you didn't believe in God. lol.

[poosaypirate]

@ArionaMew you'll need it trust me

[MastersoftheOpera]

But in most American films, cartoons or TV shows, the stereotypical British person drinking tea does raise his pinky while taking tea. I didn't know it was considered rude or impolite. Why ? It's only a pinky finger. Did it change because before it was proper and now it's not because it seems like the American-created stereotype of a British person ?

[bishonenchan]

lol

[milusine1]

I included this video in my blog 

London Hideaways furnished apartments blog

[monzongcha]

hehehehe

[super8tribe]

Excellent

For a modern London tea dance see 'Tea Tribe'

[Azreal677]

she has a really annoying way of nodding as she talks

[TimeTravellersGirl]

when people say high tea they mean high tea unless they don't know what they are talking about. It is not rude to put your pinky out, it is the proper way to drink tea and is done when drinking out of a fine bone china cup to help with balance.Now what about scones? Jam first or cream first?

[EbsNhexz]

Would it be proper for me to shout "Come ere ya browny milky little bastard!!" every time i take a sip?

[SHERETTA123]

@EbsNhexz .... you are sick... LOL>)

[makthnife]

LMFAO-limey

[6Anonymous6]

she needs to nod her head more

[courtneylvgirl]

But I always drink my tea from the saucer

[AmusedChild]

That's an old custom, and as far as I'm concerned, a graceful and civilized one. Few people do it anymore.

[courtneylvgirl]

Such a pity.

[AmusedChild]

I agree.

[xxroland51xx]

@courtneylvgirl In FINLAND all people do this.

[Oneandoneself]

I refuse ot be educated by an american on the subject of afternoon tea, only british are the best. its all wrong Milk in first

[duschdasnasenspray]

Tea in First is better

[Oneandoneself]

eh no

[watchulla]

@Oneandoneself

LOL!!!!! OK then why the hell are you hear.

If you are British then you should already know this stuff.......yes?. I wish you foreigners would get a life. You are worse than racists. Just comming to site to start crap with americans get a life or some self asteem.

[Oneandoneself]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[poosaypirate]

@Oneandoneself then i guess you came to the wrong place HONK! HONK!

[fonna]

I'd actually like to see someone pour their tea back in the cup from the saucer. lol.

I reserve my tea time more towards the colder months when we all need a little pick me up with some extra sweets and a nice hot drink or a hot toddy. And I do put the milk in first, then ye don't have to stir it and make that clinkity clankity sound.

lol

All in all, I liked the video..

[robert85085]

"soiled" spoon? wtf? yeah, cuz i wiped my bowels with it after stirring

[rbern22]

lol.  Though I liked this video I also thought that soiled comment was funny .

[BroadwayKidNamedJosh]

I hate these kind of things. Is this what they teach people in America what England is like? Ponsy little la te ta fancy english people? That's why a lot of people in America have that typical stereotype of english people.Fancy to good for you people. When we have tea in england, we make a cup, drink it. Simple. And even as to "tea time" as in referring to lunch, we don't use fancy china.. we just eat. grrr

[TheFowlyetti]

Some people still like cream tea tho! Me included.

[promophobe69]

But people do have "tea" like this. there is a difference between "drinking tea - ie having a brew"" and "drinking tea - the official above". They have the same name and thats why we have the confusion, but I think most people realise that most of us Brits don't do the above every single time we make a drink.

[poosaypirate]

@BroadwayKidNamedJosh NO NO NO thats not the point or purpose of the lesson., this is about CUSTOM - vast sweeping generalizations about an entire population on the basis of national origin is another topic again, Doll Face

[teequz1985]

thank you......

[kleinkopffff]

Uhmm eat a dick

[promophobe69]

Actually she said "finger sandwiches, savories scones and deserts"

I didn't hear her mention anything about dick, but I will watch the video again to be sure.

[promophobe69]

No, nothing about dick. Perhaps you have been thinking about them recently.

[kleinkopffff]

Mmm Yes I have.. Very Much yes.

[promophobe69]

Touche. ;)

[kleinkopffff]

Mmm Yes,

[ErnstRohmFan]

AHHHHHH

What a lot of rubbish. You forgot everything to do with drinking tea.

I'm English, I'd know. I have it every week

[Ququog]

Surely you have it daily, if not hourly?

[Madagasmask]

Agreed, hourly for myself.

ErnstRohnFan seems to forget that this is directed to formal settings. Generally, we make it in a kettle, have pre-made bags, and swill down cheap stuff. I quite love Sainsburys red label.

I'm planning to have a cream tea session with my friends though, that'll mean breaking out the china, cooking scones, picking strawberry's and buying a nice verity of different tea leaves -one of my friends loves earl grey (bleh!).

[azreil1997]

PG Tips love  ;-)

[mylondonieye]

Obviously your not english. I live in Brighton England and everything she said is true.

[ClassicComposure]

Lovely! Thank you for that enjoyable lesson!

[Sony1231231]

OMG, thank you, thank you, for explaining that 'high' tea is not the 'fancy' tea experience so many people, (usually Americans), think it is! Lovely service. You probably already know this, but half way through this video, the audio isn't synced to the video. A bit distracting, but otherwise, it's a lovely lesson. Thank you!

[poosaypirate]

@Sony1231231 that should then be Low Tea but it does seem to depend on school of thought

[ChamindaBole]

This is very helpful. Thanx Syndi, your presentation skills are very high. Highly appreciated. Thanx again...!!!

[TruRykFen]

Very helpful.