Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring boiling hot water over leaves of the tea plant. Its scientific name is Camellia Sinesis Tea

After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Tea is an evergreen tropical plant, therefore it can't be cultivated in Great Britain.

Origins According to a Chinese legend, a Chinise emperor, Shennong, (inventor of agricolture and Chinese medicine) was drinking a bowl of just boiled water some time around 2737 BC, when the wind blew a few leaves from a nearby tree into his water, changing the color.

The emperor took a sip of the brew and was pleasantly surprised by its flavor and restorative properties.

Portuguese merchants imported tea into Europe from China in the 16 th century.

HISTORY Tea was introduced in England in the 17 th century by the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II

The Boston Tea Party watch?v=Bt1oPIX3ZlI

The Boston Tea Party Another important event in the history of tea is the so-called Boston Tea Party. It was a political protest by the so-called Sons of Liberty in Boston, a city in the British American colonies.

The protest was against the tax policy of the British Government and the East India Company, that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies.

On December 16, 1773, after officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it intoBoston harbor.

The incident remains an iconic event of American history, towards its indipendence.

Social History Tea was first considered a fashionable drink for the rich, then it became a popular drink for lower classes.

In the 17 th century, the tea fashion soon spread from the royal court to the middle class, who could drink tea in London coffee houses (mainly frequented by business men).

The tea drunk in coffee houses wasn't so good as the one we drink today, because it was brewed in the morning for the whole day.

So a visitor to the coffee house in the late afternoon would be drinking tea that had been made hours before, in the early morning!

In the 18 th century, as tea was still very expensive, smuggling was widespread. So the government has to lower taxes on tea, which became cheaper and for the masses of people.

In 19 th century, afternoon tea became an elaborate social occasion.

During the first and second world war, it was allowed two or three cups a day of rather weak tea.

But there was extra tea for those in the armed forces, and on the domestic front for those in vital jobs such as firemen and steel workers. Tea was also sent in Red Cross parcels to British prisoners of war abroad.

TEA 4 HEALTH

Tea hydratates and contains: antioxidants ( substances that block the so-called free radicals, responsible for aging and various diseases, such as heart attack and cancer) and caffeine (a stimulant when you're tired)

TEA CUSTOMS Tea is drunk by British people all day long, mainly with milk in: tea breaks can be innumerable!

Breakfast tea is early in the morning and it is a foundamental part of this reach meal for British people.

Afternoon tea is around 4 or 5 p.m. to ward off the hunger pangs between lunch and dinner. They usually eat biscuits or cakes (muffins or scones) with jam and cream together with a cup of tea.

Afternoon tea can also be accompanied by sandwiches or finger food.

High Tea is not only a cup of tea! It's an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5pm and 7pm. It is often stated that the word "high" refers to the height of the table from which the meal was eaten.

In fact, afternoon tea was served in the garden where possible or it was usually taken in a day room, library or salon where low tables (like a coffee table) were placed near sofas.

High tea typically consists of a hot dish such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or macaroni cheese, followed by cakes and bread, butter and jam. Occasionally there would be cold cuts of meat, such as ham salad.

Traditionally high tea was eaten by middle to upper class children (whose parents would have a more formal dinner later) or by labourers, miners and the like when they came home from work.

Anyway, every meal is accompanied by a good cup of tea for British people!

This is one of the most famous nursery rhyme

I'm a little teapot, Short and stout, Here's my handle, Here's my spout, When I get all steamed up, Hear me shout, Tip me up and pour me out!

love and appreciate tea

Lavoro interdisciplinare con Italiano: DIMMI COSA BEVI E TI DIRO CHI SEI: Gradisce un tè o un caffè? texts by II°F Created on power point Computer master: Chiara Desiato II°F Music: primavera By Vivaldi