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Relocation to London – Transitioning to Tea

Thursday December 15th, 2011

Canadians and Americans moving to London should be aware that tea is serious business in England and should not be taken lightly. Visitors are behooved to have a cup of tea and scone before returning to the states. If one is not a tea fan they will be after moving to London! Having a spot of tea is a daily ritual for the majority of Londoners and to truly feel like a Brit those moving to London must partake in this tradition.

Typically, the British begin their day with a cup of tea – not coffee. Throughout the day several tea breaks punctuate one’s daily life. Low tea refers to tea time between two and five in the afternoon and consists of tea and light snacks like small sandwiches, scones or pastries. The tea is traditionally served with milk and sugar at a coffee table of low height, hence the origin of the name Low Tea.

High Tea is traditionally served from five to seven in the evening and is more of a meal than a snack. It is served at a dining table of higher height, thus the origins of the name High Tea. A number of substantial dishes often accompany the tea instead of cakes and biscuits (the English word for cookies) and High Tea can also be referred to as Meat Tea for this reason.

Afternoon tea consumption began in England around 1661 when Catherine of Braganca married King Charles II and brought the tradition over during her relocation to London from Portugal. The English embraced the ritual so much that one would never think it originated somewhere else!

Drinking tea is synonymous with British culture. When hosting an English guest after one’s international relocation make sure to offer them tea instead of coffee. Afternoon tea in the United States is often a formal occasion that occurs in a hotel or restaurant with fancy teacups and a tiered cake stand full of beautiful treats. For Brits, afternoon tea is usually a much more casual affair with a cup or two of tea and some biscuits. Therefore Americans moving to London should not worry so much about presentation when hosting a friend for tea. The most important thing is that there are tea and biscuits available and offered to guest.

Tags: Americans moving to London, international relocation, Moving to London, relocation to london, Tea

Relocation to London Includes Drinking Tea

Wednesday August 17th, 2011

For Americans relocating to London, as well as Canadians moving to London should be aware, tea is serious business in England. Hardly anyone visits London without having a cup and a scone in endless trendy spots. If you are not a fan of tea, you will be after your relocation to London. Having a “spot” of tea is a daily ritual in English society, and you must partake in this tradition to truly feel like a Brit. The British typically begin their day with a cup of tea, not coffee, but they are more known for their afternoon tea breaks, which can occur at two different times in the afternoon.

Low Tea occurs between two and five in the afternoon. It consists of tea and light snacks, such as small sandwiches, scones, or pastries. The tea is traditionally served with milk and sugar at a coffee table of low height, hence the origin of the name Low Tea.

High Tea is traditionally served from five to seven in the evening, and is more of a meal. It is served at a dining table of higher height, thus the origins of the name High Tea. A number of substantial dishes often accompany the tea, instead of cakes and biscuits (the English word for cookies), and High Tea can also be referred to as Meat Tea for this reason.

Afternoon tea consumption began in England around 1661 when Catherine of Braganca married King Charles II and brought the tradition over during her relocation to London from Portugal. The English embraced the ritual so much, that you would never think it originated somewhere else!

Drinking tea is synonymous with British culture. When hosting an English guest after your relocation to London, make sure you offer them tea instead of coffee. Afternoon tea in the United States is often a formal occasion that occurs in a hotel or restaurant with fancy teacups and a tiered cake stand full of beautiful treats. For Brits, afternoon tea is usually a much more casual affair with a cup or two of tea and some biscuits.

So, do not worry so much about your presentation when hosting a friend for tea after moving to London. The most important thing is that you have tea and biscuits available and offer them to your guest. So, you aren’t a tea drinker? There are some basics to serving tea that you should know.

Most Brits will be happy with any tea that you offer them, but I did hear from a friend that her British guest was such a stickler about having proper English tea that my friend ran out late one night to get some for her! You can avoid a situation like this by stocking at least one good staple English tea in your cabinet. It is always nice to have a few choices to offer your guest, but if you are still not a fan of drinking tea after your relocation to London, one good tea is fine.

Tags: Americans moving to London, Canadiens moving to London, England, international relocation, Moving to London, relocation to london, Tea, United States

Relocation to London – High Tea

Wednesday August 10th, 2011

Nothing will complete your relocation to London than ‘high tea’ and one of the posh hotels right in the center of the city. It may not be traditional English fare, but it is definitely an English tradition. Settling into life in a new country after an international relocation can be daunting. It can be all too easy to slip into the routine of work and home. You’re in one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Take time to enjoy everything about the city after your relocation to London

Take Tea for Two at the Ritz

Afternoon tea is very serious business at the hotels in London. It is not just for tourist though and has retained popularity among the ‘ladies who lunch’ and many people from across England who have come for a couple of days.

It’s not cheap by any means but it is an experience that you have to have when you are moving here. A number of the top hotels in London offer afternoon tea. It really is a sumptuous affair that takes you back to a more genteel time. It will also give you a small idea of how the gentry used to live and the traditions that have shaped a nation.

It is not just the tradition of afternoon tea that has played an important part in the spirit of England. Each country has its own traditions and ways of doing things that have become entrenched in society. Defining a nation as diverse as England and a city like London is difficult. There are over 300 foreign languages spoken in London alone. It is a city of immigrants and yet there is a sense of national pride in everyone who lives in London.

Experiencing the grand tradition of an afternoon tea complete with cucumber sandwiches and smoked salmon on brown bread is just one facet of life. The best part of it all is that you will be able to experience it all after your relocation.

Tags: England, international relocation, Moving to London, Relocation service, relocation to london, Tea

Living in London – Tea for Two!

Wednesday June 15th, 2011

Immersing yourself in fine English traditions can be a whole lot of fun when you’re living in London. When you’re moving to London one of the first English traditions that you have to experience is ‘Tea and Scones’. If you want to show off that you know a bit, call it a Devonshire Tea instead of just Tea and Scones (Or Cornish Tea). Cream Tea is another common name for this popular practice. Tea and Scones is the kind of thing that’s become so ingrained in the British culture that you could go to any tea room across Britain and be offered a proper English Tea with Scones. It’s also popular outside of Great Britain and you could go as far as South Africa and be able to be served a Cream Tea.

Here then are the best places in London to get a proper Cream Tea:

The Ritz – First of all, we’re talking about one of the oldest and most recognized hotels in the world. The Ritz isn’t so much a hotel as it is an institution. And much the same could be said of their Tea’s, with five sittings a day, from 11:30 to 7:30.

The English Tea Room, Brown’s Hotel – None more English Tea Room than this. This place comes with specially wood-paneled rooms and a pianist offering some music, all for that classic, “olde worlde” feel (they’ve done the same at the Ritz. Pianists really do add to that high tea feel!).

The Mandeville Hotel – This place is as traditional as they come. How traditional? When they serve the tea, it’s brought in blue china cups for the men and pink floral cups for the women. That’s how traditional.

The Savoy – Much like the Ritz, the Savoy is another London hotel that’s pretty much an institution. Again like the Ritz, you’ll have someone tinkling the ivories just to give the setting some ambiance.

And lastly, because I have a major sweet-tooth, go to The Metropolitan. All the other places I’ve mentioned have a fine selection of cakes and sweet treats but when I saw a photograph of the offering at The Metropolitan, that was enough for me to call ahead and make a booking.

Moving to London and acclimatizing to your new home doesn’t have to be that hard, although you will pile on the pounds if you make afternoon tea a daily ritual!

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Living in London – “Tea for Two”

Tuesday January 18th, 2011

If you are going to be living in London, then you might want to explore some of the culture surrounding tea, the drinking of tea and the preparation of the beverage. If it seems a little odd to devote an entire article to the consumption of tea then you might be surprised to learn that on average British people consume nearly 3 kg’s of tea per annum. It is the national drink of the United Kingdom and if you are entertaining people during the day, then you should be able to prepare and serve tea to your guests. Part of living in a new country is the chance to immerse yourself in the culture and customs of the country, and drinking tea at any time of the day is very much a part of the culture in England.

The popularity of tea as a beverage dates back to the height of the British Empire when England controlled most of the world’s tea trade between the East and West. It has been around, however since the 1600’s as a drink made fashionable by the gentry. As tea grew in popularity, an entire culture surrounding tea burst into existence. Tea gardens and Tea dances were immensely popular for decades.

Today tea is served in two ways. The most common way is known as ‘builder’s tea’, this is a hot drink served at any time of the day. It is not served in a teacup and saucer, but in a mug and it is a strong tea, that is served with sugar and milk. People in England drink up to seven mugs of tea a day and will have it with a meal, or biscuits as a quick snack. The more refined way of serving tea involves using a cup and saucer and is almost ritualistic in nature.

How to prepare and serve tea:

Boiling water is poured into a teapot, which is a utensil with a spout that is used for pouring tea. Once the pot is warmed, the water is discarded.
Tealeaves are added to the warmed pot, some people use tea bags today for convenience, but purists would stick to loose tealeaves to better bring out the flavour.
Hot water is added to the tealeaves and the mixture is allowed to settle for a few minutes to brew. A tea cosy is often placed over the pot; this is usually a knitted cover that keeps the tea warm while it is brewing.
Tea is never allowed to brew for more than ten minutes as the tea is spoiled and turns bitter.
The tea is poured into a cup and milk and sugar are added depending on how the individual prefers to drink it. There is some debate about whether or not to add milk before or after the tea, but this is really a question of personal taste.

Crazy about Coffee

If you are going to be moving to London, do not panic that you will not be able to drink your favourite cup of java. Coffee is served as often as tea, although most people in England will serve instant coffee in their homes, as opposed to the real deal. If you are craving a shot of espresso, then never fear, London is a cosmopolitan city and you’ll be able to find a Starbucks on most high streets.

Tags: Americans moving to London, England, Food, Instant coffee, Moving to London, moving to London England, Tea, things to know about london

Living in London – ‘High Tea’

Saturday December 25th, 2010

If you are settling in after your move to London, you might find some of your new friends and acquaintances talking about having ‘tea’, and while the English do have a reputation for being a nation of tea drinkers, it might be worthwhile learning about the distinction between tea, high tea and dinner or supper. Many people in London still refer to their evening meal as ‘tea’ although there is no tea served! Having tea is a meal that is served in the early evening when people get home from work. It is early than most people eat their dinner, but it is a casual meal, usually served at the kitchen table so that children can be included in the meal. Served at around 5 pm, it is a small snack if you going out later in the evening for a meal, or it can even be a full meal.

Steak, egg and chips

A favourite meal for many people in England. This version of the mixed grill is about as English as it gets, and many people even have toast with their meal, which might sound a little like breakfast in the evening, but when in Rome… there is a certain comfort factor in having your breakfast meal at the end of the day and many people even consider steak, egg and chips to be a family favourite.

Kitchen Supper

If you are invited for a kitchen supper, then it is a casual meal, very informal and it will usually involve a number of friends sitting outside if the weather is clement or around the kitchen table enjoying snacks and finger food.

High Tea

This really is an English tradition and one that you have to experience in the grand tradition of the upper classes in England and London. Not many people will serve high tea in their homes as it does mean a lot of work and the best way to experience this quintessential English tradition is to take high tea at one of the upmarket London hotels that continue the tradition to this day. It is a ritual that harks back to a time when life was less stressed and rushed, and people had time to enjoy a later afternoon tea before preparing for the evening’s entertainment. If you want to indulge yourself and impress your overseas guests then take them to ‘The Ritz Hotel’ that serves high-tea every afternoon in the sumptuous and elegant ‘Palm Court’. Not just a British tradition, this is still one of the most fashionable places to be seen in. Another traditional hotel that puts on a show for high tea is Claridges Hotel.

Living in London will offer up so many little treats that should be experienced as a part of the fabric of this unique and traditional, yet ultra cosmopolitan city. Experience them all and you will be creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, England, living in London, london move, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, Ritz Hotel, Tea

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Relocation to London – Transitioning to Tea

Relocation to London Includes Drinking Tea

Relocation to London – High Tea

Living in London – Tea for Two!

Living in London – “Tea for Two”

Living in London – ‘High Tea’

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