A Comparative Study on tea culture between China and UK

A Comparative Study on tea culture between China and UK Introduction Thesis :Tea plays an important role in both Chinese and British society. But tea culture in Britain and China are different . Tea culture is defined by the way tea is made and consumed, by the way the people interact with tea, and by the aesthetics surrounding tea drinking. Tea plays an important role in both Chinese and British society. But, there exist similarities and differences between Chinese tea culture and British tea culture. So, as English learners, it is necessary for us to study on them. Let me analyze the similarities of tea culture between the two countries. China and Britain both have a long history of tea drinking. Also, there exists a similar social function of tea drinking between the two countries. As a social custom, tea drinking plays an important role in the two countries. Actually, tea is always offered to a guest immediately upon entering both a Chinese home and a British home. Serving a cup of tea is more than a matter of mere politeness. It is a symbol of togetherness, a sharing of something enjoyable, and a way of showing respect to visitors. 【1】 Then, let’s come to the differences. Firstly, the development of tea drinking is quite different from each other. China is the home country of tea, and tea, the national drinking of our Chinese, enjoys a long history. Chinese tea can be traced back to 3000 years ago. originally, the Chinese people didn't treat the tea as a valuable thing as functional herbs as medicines did. However, gradually, people feel more energetic after drinking tea. They realized that this kind of herb was good for their health. It would act not only as nourish herb, but also as medicine to cure has diseases. After a long-time development, Chinese tea—like Chinese silk and china— become synonymous worldwide with refined culture.【2】 As for UK, the popularity of tea dates back to the 19th century when India was part of the British Empire, and British interests controlled tea production in the subcontinent. It was, however, first introduced in Britain by the Portuguese Catherine of Braganza, queen consort of Charles II of England in the 1660s and 1670s. By 1750, tea had become the principal drink of all the social classes in Britain, although at that time a pound of the cheapest tea cost about one-third of a skilled worker’s weekly wage.【3】Nowadays, tea is the most popular drink in Britain——far more popular than coffee. Secondly , the meaning of “tea” in the two countries differs from each other. China is a country with a time-honored civilization and a land of ceremony and decorum. Whenever guests visit, it is necessary to make and serve tea to them. Before serving tea, you may ask them for their preferences as to what kind of tea they fancy and serve them the tea in the most appropriate teacups. Snacks, sweets and other dishes may be served at tea time to complement the fragrance of the tea and to allay one's hunger. In the UK, tea is not only the name of the beverage, but also the name of a meal. Even more confusing is that the kind of meal that a person means when talking about tea depends very much on their social background and where they live. For some, especially in the upper social classes, tea is of an afternoon light meal, often just cake, buns, scones or sandwiches served, irrespective of the beverage consumed with it. For others, especially working classes in South Wales and much of the North of England, the term 'tea' means the main evening meal. Thirdly , there are some differences of procedures and materials of tea drinking between the two countries. Tea in China and Britain is usually brewed in a china teapot, adding one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot. Great important is attached to the use of freshly boiled water, which is poured onto the leaves. The tea is left to brew for a few minutes. But for the people in China, they enjoy a cup of tea without adding anything, but the people in UK prefer to have a cup of tea with added milk, a little sugar and some snacks. And “Mix and Match” become more and more popular nowadays; some of the stores mix up tea, milk and coffee. This new kind drink is popular among the young. 【4】 【5】 Fourthly, tea plays an important role in Chinese emotional life. The Chinese people, in their drinking of tea, place much significance on the act of "savoring." "Savoring tea" is not only a way to discern good tea from mediocre tea, but also how people take delight in their reverie and in tea-drinking itself. Snatching a bit of leisure from a busy schedule, making a kettle of strong tea, securing a serene space, and serving and drinking tea by yourself can help banish fatigue and frustration, improve your thinking ability and inspire you with enthusiasm. You may also imbibe it slowly in small sips to appreciate the subtle allure of tea-drinking, until your spirits soar up and up into a sublime aesthetic realm. However, much of the time in the United Kingdom, tea drinking is not the delicate, refined cultural expression that the rest of the world imagines—a cup (or commonly a mug) of tea is something drunk often, with some people drinking as many as 15-20 cups of tea a day, although the average is around 5. This is not to say that the British do not have a more formal tea ceremony, but for the working class of the United Kingdom, tea breaks are an essential part of any day. Employers generally allow breaks for tea and sometimes biscuits to be served.【6】 According to the comparative study I have done above, I have learnt that China and Britain have a long history of tea drinking and tea plays in social custom and personal life. However, just as an old saying goes, “There are no identical leaves in the world”. Different culture and geography result in the differences of tea culture in China and UK, so we should learn the differences between them in order to communicate well with British people.