by Peter Walsh
English Breakfast Tea, a unique national drink? The name is something of an iconic one, known around the world, one of the most well known teas . A strong robust brew often taken with milk and sugar that has become something of a custom. A morning tradition wholly English? Well maybe not! read on and make your own mind up!
Tea was an afternoon recuperative brew, taken for the recovery or regaining of mind and body. It was introduced to the English court around the time of the marriage between Catherina of Briganza of Portugal and our very own King Charles ll of England, in the year 1662. The story goes that as the trade routes to the east were in the main controlled by the Portugese, and had enjoyed lucrative trade dealings with China from as early as 1500’s, tea drinking had been the luxury of the royal courts of Portugal for many years. As a result it was believed this was the reason why tea became a popular introduction to England. However, there are records suggesting that drinking tea in England had started before the Kings marriage to Catherina, although, the increase in the popularity of tea has been attributed to her?
So when and how did the delicacy of drinking tea in the Royal Courts become the drink of the masses and at breakfast time? There are, as ever, gaps in the story of the evolution of tea from the time when it had royal patronage until it became a drink available world wide. The creation of English Breakfast Tea is said to be the result of an english immigrant called Richard Davies from Hull to the Americas in the early 1800’s who after blending a mixture of Indian and Chinese black tea leaves launched it in New York as English Breakfast Tea. An eye popping and invigorating drink perfect to counteract the effects of a heavy intake of a protein rich fatty meats found in the traditional english breakfast. This brew, morning tonic, very soon gained popularity with the masses, and despatches were sent from retailers in England to secure stocks of this new and little known popular blend. It has since become synonymous around the world as English Breakfast Tea. As this is a “blended” variety of tea drink, they vary between tea producers and suppliers, who all look to provide a brew with special qualities such as colour, aroma and flavour that leave a lasting taste in the mouth. The teas used are blended in ratio’s developed over time, so no matter what the blend, if a smooth black tea sounds appealing in the morning, reach for some fine English Breakfast Tea.
