Чайные традиции в разных странах
Today we will tell you about the traditions of tea drinking in some countries of the world. This idea was prompted by the dispute about the birthplace of tea. Several countries claim this high title. Meanwhile, the cultural traditions of tea drinking are very original in different countries. The culture of tea consumption in each nation has its own centuries-old history, and in some countries, for example, in America, the culture of tea drinking is an amazing mixture of traditions of different nations.
The Russian people are one of the most inquisitive in the world. That is why we are always drawn to everything new. We dream of traveling outside our country not only for recreation, but also to touch a previously unknown culture, to learn something new about other countries, about the traditions of other peoples.
So today we'll be thinking about tea drinking in the following countries:
- Russia.
- England.
- America.
- Japan.
How do they drink tea in Russia?
The popularizer of tea in our country was Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. During his reign, this eastern drink began to be imported to Russia en masse and became popular among different layers of the population. Just like you and me, dear readers, during his reign, both old and young, both aristocrats and simple peasants drank tea.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, tea became an indispensable attribute of meetings of the Russian intelligentsia. At such gatherings, not only social news was discussed, but also the fate of the world. Many Russian classics of literature described this tradition: Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Maxim Gorky and many others.
Thus, Russian tea drinking has become one of the genetic codes of our people. And here are the features I have noticed in the tradition of consuming this wonderful drink in our country:
- Our people drink tea throughout the day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- We drink tea with anything: with apples, with honey, with sugar on the side, with milk or cream, with lemon and other additives.
- It is impossible not to mention the samovar as an obligatory attribute of Russian tea drinking in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For evening tea, the table was covered with a beautiful tablecloth, and a society of like-minded people gathered around the pot-bellied samovar. It is a pity that this wonderful tradition is gradually disappearing from our everyday life.
- In Russia, tea is always served with various baked goods (gingerbread, sweet pies, cookies, etc.) and delicious snacks (jams, preserves, marmalade, etc.).
How they drink tea in England
Tea came to Great Britain from the eastern colonies. However, eastern traditions did not take root in this country. In the Victorian era, even the process of tea drinking in England was strictly regulated. The hostess of the reception sent out invitations in advance, where the circle of guests, the form of attire and the duration of the reception were indicated.
The tea drinking process itself was divided by gender. Socialite ladies gathered separately to discuss the latest news and gossip. Light cakes, marmalade or pastilles were served at their table. Men preferred to drink tea without any snacks. There were special tea rooms for men and women in English homes.
Thus, tea drinking in England became a kind of debating club, and the process of consuming the drink itself was supposed to bring together the different sides of the debate, giving the communication a sense of non-parliamentary simplicity.
It is interesting that due to the high cost of this drink, servants were not allowed to attend tea parties of English aristocrats, and the hostess poured the tea herself. The servants could simply steal the precious drink.
How They Drink Tea in America
If you are in the USA and are invited to have tea, remember some of the peculiarities of tea drinking in this country. Namely:
- "Barging in" on a visit without an invitation, and especially with a companion, is not accepted in America. Therefore, inform the host of the reception in advance whether you will come or not, and clarify the possibility of inviting a companion with you.
- Try a little bit of all the dishes offered at the tea table.
- While drinking, do not look over the cup at those present. Direct your gaze only at the contents of the cup.
- When leaving the table for a short time, be sure to place your napkin on your chair.
- In the United States, it is not customary to touch your face or head in general while drinking tea.
- Once you have drunk the tea, do not move the cup away from you.
- In America, it is customary to hold a cup in your right hand and a saucer in your left when bringing it to your mouth. When sipping your drink, hold the saucer under the cup.
- God forbid that in America you drink tea from a saucer, as we do. On the contrary, if a drop of tea falls on the saucer, it must be wiped with a napkin.
How They Drink Tea in Japan
In this country, tea drinking turns into a ritual act with its own laws and traditions. And when the Japanese are told about how we drink this drink, they are truly shocked. They cannot believe that Russians can drink this "gift from the gods" at any time of the day.
- In Japan, tea drinking takes place in a special tea house, which is located away from living quarters.
- The entrance to the tea house in ancient times did not exceed 90 cm in height. Thus, a person of any class had to make a ritual bow before starting the process. Tea in Japan equalizes people.
- Tea making and drinking utensils are sacred in Japan. Before each tea drinking ritual in this country, there is a special ritual of cleansing the tea utensils.
- Every tea cup in Japan has a so-called "face". This place is decorated with a special ornament or an image of a family totem animal (dragon, tiger, snake, etc.). When serving a cup of tea to a guest, the host turns the "face" to the guest, who, in turn, after accepting the cup from the host's hands, must immediately turn the "face" to the latter, showing his respect. It is considered a mortal insult if the guest dares to sip the drink from the "face".
Of course, in this short article we have not described even a hundredth part of the tea drinking traditions of different countries of the world. Tea is drunk all over the planet and for each nation its consumption turns into a kind of sacred act. But the main thing is that no matter what country you are in, remember that drinking tea together is always a manifestation of the rapprochement of peoples, a symbol of hospitality and a special attitude of the host to the guest.
