Welcome!
Hello and welcome to (Don’t) Spill The Tea!, my name is Grace. Both of my parents grew up in England and they moved to the US not long before I was born. Having British parents, I was regularly exposed to staples of the British diet, such as tea, while I was growing up. In this blog, I hope to have a fun discussion about this topic and bring light to more than just the stereotypical foods people think of when they think of British cuisine. Never fear, though, the classics will of course be discussed as well. So, if you’re interested in diving beyond the fish and chips and beans on toast, join me here on (Don’t) Spill The Tea! and let’s have some fun!
May 9th, 2025: So, You Want To Have A Tea Party?
The first, and arguably most important, staple of British food culture is tea. We’re not talking about herbal teas or Earl Grey, but the classic black tea found in households across England. Brits drink tea—usually more than one cup a day, at that. But what are the nuances of the art of making and consuming tea that may escape the notice of those of us less familiar with the tradition?
Well, the making of the tea is simple. You put the tea—usually in the form of tea bags—into a mug and pour in boiling water from a kettle. Do not, under any circumstances, ever, use a microwave to heat your water, you may just be banned from ever entering the UK. Then, let it brew for about 5 minutes, and—boom—you have tea. It is important to note that many Brits would also argue the only true way to make tea is with tea leaves and using a teapot, but I digress.
But what do you put in the tea? Do you want sugar or not? Will you have it with milk or not? Most Brits will have their tea with milk, and some add sugar (or, more commonly, a form of artificial sweetener). Then, there’s the question of what you’ll have with your tea. Will you just drink the tea, or will you have a biscuit (a cookie, for us Americans) with it too?
Another thing to consider is the idea of afternoon tea. In true British fashion, afternoon tea takes tea and makes an entire event out of it. Complete with little sandwiches, pastries, and scones, afternoon tea is perhaps the most fun way to consume tea. Also in true British fashion, afternoon tea comes with some controversy.
Alright, if we’re being honest, this controversy is not really about the afternoon tea, but about the scones. When you sit down to tea, your scones will be served with jam and clotted cream (a thick cream somewhere between whipped cream and butter). But when you put these spreads on your scone, which will you put on first? There’s the Devon way—cream first, then jam—and the Cornwall way— jam first, then cream. While this may seem like an innocent question, it is an enormous source of debate amongst the British public. I myself am in the “Devon way” camp.
My mother—who may just disown me for saying that—does not agree. She is staunchly on the “Cornwall way” side of the debate. So if you ever find yourself out to tea with a Brit, tread carefully and stay safe, this kind of thing could just end friendships and break up families.
So, now you know. Next time you want some tea, think about embracing your inner Brit and having it the proper way. It’s not difficult, but it is vital to British culture.
