If you had to choose the icons of England, that is, anything that could be considered as typical and characteristic of English culture, what would you mention?
One of the symbols of England is definitely the "humble" cup of tea. Read this text to know some more about it and then answer the questions below.
CUP OF TEA?
Have a nice sit-down with a cuppa. What could be more quintessentially
English?
The most normal thing in the world. The tea we drink isn't English at all.
There's a good chance the tea cup isn’t either... But wherever you go, right across
England, you'll find cups of tea being served from your everyday greasy spoon
to the Ritz. At the Ritz the beverage will be served in delicate bone china and
with cucumber sandwiches.
It was introduced into England (along with coffee and chocolate) in the
1650s and it was first of all valued for its restorative properties. In the
Victorian era, tea became the centrepiece of a new late-afternoon social event
in the lives of the rich. It was also a popular alternative to beer as the
drink of working people.
The humble cup of tea is also surprisingly controversial. People ask questions such as "Do you put in the tea or the milk first?" Whether you put the milk or the tea in first, -because everybody has their own preferred method of making tea – tea is our national drink, a national icon.
The humble cup of tea is also surprisingly controversial. People ask questions such as "Do you put in the tea or the milk first?" Whether you put the milk or the tea in first, -because everybody has their own preferred method of making tea – tea is our national drink, a national icon.
“If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool
you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm
you.” William Gladstone (1809-1898)
Adapted from www.icons.org.uk