đż Tea, this miraculous leaf from the East, has not only transformed people's eating habits but also deeply permeated the cultural and artistic soil of the West since it crossed the oceans and entered the Western world in the 17th century. From royal palaces to scholars' studies, from canvases to poems, tea, with its unique Oriental charm and spiritual connotations, has inspired the creative inspiration of countless Western artists and become a spiritual medium connecting Eastern and Western civilizations.
đ The Court Fashion of Tea Drinking
đ¸ 1. Princess Catherine of Braganza
The popularity of tea in Western society, most notably, was a cultural spread brought about by a transnational marriage. In 1662, Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza, with a generous dowry â including 221 pounds (about 100 kg) of precious Chinese Xingcun Tongmu Pass black tea and exquisite tea sets â married King Charles II of the United Kingdom. The new queen's love for tea-drinking quickly sparked a trend in the British court.
Zha Liershi and Queen Catherine
Princess Catherine's tea-drinking ceremony at court became an elegant performance:Â "She wore a gorgeous dress, put small leaves from a distant country into a teapot, added hot water to brew, then poured the red liquid into a delicate teacup, slowly lifted it to her lips, and a fragrant aroma wafted out."Â This exotic sense of ritual quickly captured the hearts of the aristocracy, and tea-drinking became a symbol of status and taste.
đ The British poet Edmund Waller specifically composed "On Tea" (also known as "The Song of the Tea-Drinking Queen") dedicated to Catherine, in which he praised: "The wisest queen, the most miraculous plant, that brave country, the beautiful land bathed in sunlight, bestows upon us generous gifts." This poem is considered the first Western tea poem, forever linking tea with royal nobility.
Venus her Myrtle, Phoebus has his bays;
Tea both excels, which she vouchsafes to praise,
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.
The Muse's friend, tea does our fancy aid,
Repress those vapours which the head invade.
And keep the palace of the soul serene,
Fit on her birthday to salute the Queen.
ââ Edmund Waller ăOn Teaă
đ 2. Duchess Anna of Bei Defu
Anna, the inventor of the United Kingdom's afternoon tea
British Afternoon Tea, originating from the Victorian era of the 19th century, is a dietary tradition that was first introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford in the United Kingdom. Every afternoon, Lady Anna would feel listless and bored. Thinking that there was still some time before the formal and elaborate dinner party, and feeling a bit hungry, she asked the maid to prepare some slices of toast, butter, and tea to satisfy her hunger. Later, Lady Anna invited several close friends to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with tea and delicate pastries. Unexpectedly, this behavior soon became a trend among the aristocratic social circle at that time, with ladies and gentlemen flocking to it. To this day, it has evolved into an elegant and leisurely afternoon tea culture, also becoming the orthodox "British black tea culture," which is also the origin of "Victorian Afternoon Tea".
This custom features a three-tiered cake stand, with savory sandwiches placed on the bottom tier, scones with clotted cream and jam on the middle tier, and desserts on the top tier. The order of consumption follows the rule of starting with savory and ending with sweet. Afternoon tea is centered around black tea, with the United Kingdom having a 300-year history of black tea consumption and being a country with relatively high global black tea consumption. Varieties such as Darjeeling and Earl Grey are commonly used, accompanied by milk and sugar, and tea sets often use silverware or fine porcelain. The traditional ceremony requires starting at 4 pm, with participants dressing in formal attire, women wearing hats, and the tea party decorated with flowers and accompanied by classical music. This custom initially became popular among the royal family and nobility, and later gradually spread to the general public due to the popularization of tea cultivation in Indian colonies.
United Kingdom Afternoon Tea
đ Literary Tea Aroma: Spiritual Solace in the Works of Literary Giants
As the tea-drinking habit became popular in British society, tea gradually spread from the court to the common people and also entered the study and heart of writers.
đď¸ 1. Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (1709â1784), a writer, literary critic, and poet from the United Kingdom, was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire. In 1728, he entered the University of Oxford to study. In 1755, he completed the compilation of <i>A Dictionary of the English Language</i>, which systematically standardized the spelling and definitions of English words and is regarded as a foundational work of modern English dictionaries. His literary works cover poetry, prose, and biography, with representative works including the long poem <i>London</i> (1738), the philosophical poem <i>The Vanity of Human Wishes</i> (1749), and the novel <i>The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia</i> (1759).
Samuel Johnson was known for his love of tea. He claimed to "rejoice in tea at twilight, find solace in tea at night, and greet the new day with tea in the morning," and he considered tea to be "the lubricant of thought and conversation". It is said that the kettle in his house was never cold, and he drank at least 20â40 cups of tea every day. He also founded the "Johnson Club" with the famous painter Reynolds in 1763, which became popular for gathering friends over tea. It was a place where socialites, literary giants, and poets gathered to enjoy tea, write books, and express their ideas, and at that time, people like Edmund Burke were among the original members.
đď¸ 2. George Gordon Byron
George Gordon Byron (1788â1824), a great Romantic poet in the early 19th century in the United Kingdom, is known for his representative works such as Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan, and created a group of "Byronic heroes" in his poetry. He was not only a great poet but also a warrior who fought for his ideals throughout his life, actively and bravely engaging in the revolution â participating in the Greek National Liberation Movement and becoming one of its leaders.
George Byron referred to tea as "China's tears" in his poem Don Juan:
It's all thanks to Chinese green tea,
That fairy of tears!
She is far more accurate than the witch Cassandra,
It still needs to be effective,
As long as I drink three cups,
My heart is prone to sighing,
So they had to turn to Wuyi black tea;
It's a pity that drinking is already harmful to the human body,
Drinking tea and coffee makes people too serious.
ââ Don Juan
đ¨ Tea Aroma on the Canvas: Social Symbols in Visual Art
The Victorian era (1837â1901) was the heyday of the development of tea culture in the United Kingdom, as well as a stage of economic and cultural prosperity after the Industrial Revolution. In the painting art of this period, tea elements frequently appeared, becoming an important symbol for expressing the social life, family relationships, and aesthetic tastes of British society.
đźď¸ 1. ăTeaă by George Dunlop Leslie
George Dunlop R A Leslie (1835â1921), a British genre painter, writer, and illustrator, was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. George Dunlop R A Leslie was born into an artistic family; his father, Charles Robert Leslie, was also a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and his uncle, Robert Leslie, was a marine painter. His representative works include genre paintings such as "Mother and Daughter Picking Apples", "the young gardener", "sweetpeas", and "Tea", with the subjects of his works mostly focusing on everyday life scenes.
<Tea> This painting was created in 1885 and depicts a young woman dressed in 1700s attire preparing afternoon tea with blue willow plate tea sets.
The works of this painter serve as an excellent window into observing the Victorian era tea culture. Through the analysis of his works, one can see the various ways tea was represented in Victorian art. The delicate depictions of tea sets, the warm portrayals of tea-drinking scenes, and the social interactions at tea parties all became important themes for the painter to express the middle-class lifestyle and family values. These works not only document the tea-drinking customs of the time but also reflect how tea was integrated into the daily lives and spiritual world of the British people.
Tea scenes in paintings often present a harmonious and elegant family atmosphere, with the tea table becoming the center of the space where family members communicate and friends gather. This visual representation is closely related to the tradition in the United Kingdom, where afternoon tea is regarded as an important social ritual.
ăTeaăGeorge Dunlop Leslie
đźď¸ 2. The 5 PM Tea Party by Julius LeBlanc Stewart
Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855â1919) was an artist from Philadelphia, US, who developed his career in Paris. Initially, Stewart mainly painted ordinary figures, and later often depicted the socialites of Parisian high society. He held a solo exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1878. Stewart became the most popular American artist in Paris and subsequently earned the nickname "Philadelphia in Paris". By the end of 1890, he exhibited paintings featuring Venetian scenery and religious themes.
This painting, created in 1884, depicts the afternoon tea parties that were very popular during the painter's lifetime. It was painted in 1884 and can now be seen at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation in New York.
ăTea at Five O'clockă Julius LeBlanc Stewart
đ Conclusion: The Cultural Journey of a Leaf
The aroma of tea lingers, transcending three centuries of time and geography. This leaf from the East has long taken root and blossomed in the soil of Western culture. From the court fashion initiated by Queen Catherine to the ever-burning samovar in Samuel Johnson's study; from the "tears of China" penned by Byron to the family warmth flowing on Victoria's canvas â tea has not only become a beverage but also a cultural language, an art of living, and a carrier of spiritual resonance.
â Related Q&AÂ
Q1: How did tea transform from an Eastern luxury into a Western mainstream beverage?
A:Â The popularity of tea in the West began with the promotion by the royal family in the 17th century, with the most famous promoter being Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess who married King Charles II of the United Kingdom in 1662. She introduced the tea-drinking habit to the British court, quickly making it a symbol of status and taste among the aristocracy. Subsequently, tea gradually spread from the upper class to the general public through places such as coffee houses and gardens.
Q2: Why is "afternoon tea" considered an important symbol of United Kingdom culture?
A: Low Tea, originally a social activity that emerged in the 19th century among the upper class of the United Kingdom (such as the Duchess of Bedford), was designed to while away the afternoon and facilitate social interaction. It is far more than just a meal; it is a manifestation of social etiquette, family values, and a stage for showcasing aesthetics (such as the use of delicate porcelain and silverware). Paintings (such as George Dunlop Leslie's "Tea") also document its role as the center of warm family life.
Q3: What specific impacts has tea had on Western literature and artists?
A:Â Tea has profoundly influenced Western literary and artistic creation:
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Inspiration and Solace of Writers: For example, Samuel Johnson, a literary giant of the United Kingdom, self-described as a "stubborn tea-fiend" and considered tea to be "the lubricant of thought and conversation." The poet Byron, in Don Juan, poetically referred to tea as "China's tears."
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Subjects Depicted by Painters:Â During the Victorian era, tea-drinking scenes became important themes for painters (such as Julius LeBlanc Stewart) to portray social life, middle-class family charm, and social rituals.
Q4: What is the difference between "High Tea" and "Low Tea"?
A:Â These are two concepts that are often confused but fundamentally different:
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Low Tea:Â Refers to the afternoon tea enjoyed by the traditional upper class in the afternoon (around 4 p.m.). It is usually served on a low tea table in the living room, with delicate refreshments and a strong social nature.
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High Tea:Â Originally a meal closer to a main course, enjoyed by the working class sitting at a high table in the evening (around 5 PM, after work), including more substantial foods such as meat and bread.
Q5: How important are tea sets in British afternoon tea culture?
A: Extremely important. In a complete and orthodox British afternoon tea, the exquisite utensils themselves are the core of ritual and taste. Traditionally, it is required to use <b>porcelain with white background and painted patterns (such as Wedgwood brand) and shiny silverware, including teapots, cups and saucers, sugar bowls, milk jugs, cake stands, teaspoons, etc. These utensils are not only practical but also a display of art and wealth.</b>
Q6: What new developments has British afternoon tea seen in modern society?
A:Â Afternoon tea culture has continuously evolved with the times in modern society, giving rise to many novel forms:
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Theme Innovation: For example, some hotels in London have launched "Art Afternoon Tea", where the pastries are directly inspired by the works of contemporary art masters such as Yayoi Kusama and Banksy, combining food with art appreciation.
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Globalization and Localization:Â Afternoon tea culture has spread globally, with many places integrating local ingredients and dietary characteristics while retaining the core sense of ritual.
đ From royal cup to poet's ink â the enduring journey of tea in the West.
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