Posted by Claudio Santiago on 28 Mai, 2020
When English hands set at 5pm, it's time to stop what you're
doing to enjoy a nice cup of tea and a biscuit or croissant. This tradition has
existed in the country since 1662, but it became popular with people from the
19th century because of a hungry duchess. Since then, the habit left the
exclusive bourgeois and is practiced by the entire population ... And at any
time! According to the magazine Super Interesting, the tradition of five
o'clock tea has long existed in Portuguese lands. When he married the English
king Charles II, Catarina de Bragança, daughter of D. João IV, ended up taking
the custom to England. There, he was adopted by the court at ceremonies and
banquets. Even so, it was because of another royal personality that the ritual
gained fame and notoriety. Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, always felt
hungry between lunch and dinner. As a solution, she made a small snack that
consisted of a cup of tea with milk and sugar, and some salty. Over time,
English aristocrats and bourgeoisie began to imitate the Duchess's ritual in
their homes, taking advantage of the occasion to display the most expensive and
beautiful porcelain and silverware. From there, the tradition spread, tea rooms
were created and the whole of Europe was consumed by the five o'clock tea.
Today, fixed hours are not mandatory, but the habit of having a mid-afternoon
snack with plenty of tea, bread and sweets remains intact, with less or more
formality.
By: Lucas Tavares