The origin of English afternoon tea

The quintessential part of the British custom is afternoon tea. However, tea drinking did not become popular in Britain until the 1660s, and it was not until the mid-19th century that the concept of "afternoon tea" first appeared.

In 1840, afternoon tea was introduced to England by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. At that time, dinner was set for 8 p.m. So there was a long interval between lunch and dinner, and the Duchess got hungry around four o 'clock in the afternoon, so she asked the maid to bring tea and refreshments to her room towards evening. It became a habit, and she invited friends to her tea parties. Afternoon tea is becoming popular in English-speaking countries. By the 1880s, the British upper class also began to enjoy afternoon tea with friends between 4pm and 5pm.