英國飲食文化之下午茶的由來

推薦人：來源: 閱讀: 1.78W 次大中小

現在越來越多的國人也開始喝起了下午茶，下午茶中最富盛名的還屬英式下午茶，今天本站小編在這裏爲大家介紹英國的飲食文化之下午茶的由來，歡迎大家閱讀！

　　英國飲食文化：下午茶的由來

下午茶是英國傳統的精華所在，但它並沒有特別悠久的歷史。在中國，飲茶的歷史可以追溯到公元前3000年，而在英國，喝茶的風俗直到17世紀60年代英王查爾斯二世時期纔開始興盛起來。而下午茶的概念要到19世紀中葉纔出現。

下午茶是由第七任貝德福公爵夫人安娜在1840年創造出來的。公爵夫人在下午四點鐘左右常常會感到飢餓，而根據當時的風尚，晚餐要在八點鐘纔會開始，於是午餐和晚餐中間就有很長的一段時間。公爵夫人就命人把茶，黃油麪包和蛋糕在下午晚些時候送到她的房間裏去吃。這以後就成了她的習慣了，而且她開始邀請好友一起來飲茶吃點心。

自此之後，茶歇就成了一種社會潮流。在19世紀80年代，通常，下午茶會安排在起居室，時間大約是在下午四點到五點，而上層社會的女士們則會穿着長裙，戴手套和帽子來品用下午茶。

傳統的下午茶包括精選的三明治，英式奶油松餅，還有蛋糕和其他甜點。選用印度或錫蘭(現斯里蘭卡)出產的茶葉放入銀質茶壺內泡茶，再將茶水倒在精緻的中國骨瓷茶杯中飲用。

Afternoon tea, that most quintessential of English customs is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new Tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and was popularised in England during the 1660s by King Charles II, it was not until the mid 19th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ first appeared.

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880's upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o'clock.

Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, scones served withclotted cream. Cakes and pastries are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver tea pots into delicate bone china cups.

　　關於下午茶的英文閱讀：英式下午茶的前世今生

The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, what could be nicer than having a relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking a break from studying?

溫暖的天氣最適合進行戶外活動了。但對那些非運動型的人來說，還有什麼能比在學習之餘、約上三五好友一起暢享輕鬆下午茶來得更愜意呢?

But are you familiar with the culture of afternoon tea ― its origins, what’s included, and the proper etiquette? We sum up a few things you need to know about this traditional English custom so that you can enjoy it more.

但你瞭解下午茶文化嗎?包括它的起源、內容以及禮儀?爲了讓你更盡興地享受這一英式傳統，我們爲你盤點了一些喝下午茶的必備知識。

Where it all began

起源

While the tradition of drinking tea dates back to more than 3,000 BC in China, it was not until the mid 17th century that the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared in the UK.

在中國，飲茶的傳統可以追溯到公元前3000年，而直到十七世紀中葉，英國才首次出現了“下午茶”的概念。

In 1840, Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, started asking for a tea tray with butter, bread and cakes at 4 pm every day, as she found she was hungry at this time and the evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at 8 pm. She found this new habit difficult to break and soon invited other ladies in society to join her.

1840年，第七世貝德福德公爵夫人安娜?瑪利亞?羅素每天都會吩咐僕人在下午4點備好一個盛有黃油、麪包以及蛋糕的茶盤，因爲她發現自己每天下午4點都會餓，而當時時興的晚餐時間是晚上8點。很快她發現這個新習慣令人慾罷不能，便邀請另一些女士來加入其中。

This pause for tea quickly became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s, upperclass and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea.

這種茶歇很快便成了當時的社會潮流。到了19世紀80年代，上流社會女性則會爲了享用一頓下午茶而專門換上長禮服、手套以及帽子。

What an afternoon tea includes

下午茶的內容

Traditional afternoon tea, which is typically served between 4 pm and 6 pm, is technically a small meal, not a drink. It consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches (thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off are a classic), freshly baked scones served with cream and fruit jam, cakes and pastries. Of course, tea or coffee, served with milk and sugar, is also provided.

傳統的下午茶一般會於下午四點至六點間供應。確切來說，這是一頓簡餐，並非僅僅喝茶而已。餐點包括精緻的三明治(去邊麪包製成的薄片黃瓜三明治則是經典之選)、新鮮出爐的英式鬆餅配上奶油和果醬，還有蛋糕和其他甜點。當然少不了搭配奶和糖的咖啡或茶。

Nowadays, you can enjoy a traditional yet fancy afternoon tea with pot-brewed tea and delicate snacks in many restaurants and hotels. But in the average home, afternoon tea is likely to be much simpler ― biscuits with a mug of tea, usually produced using a teabag.

如今，你能在很多的餐廳和酒店享受到這樣一頓傳統而別緻的下午茶——一壺沏好的香茗，配上數樣精美糕點。但在尋常人家，下午茶往往就簡單得多了——用馬克杯沖泡一個茶包，再配上幾塊餅乾就可以了。

Etiquette of afternoon tea

下午茶禮儀

As with everything, a particular etiquette is associated with afternoon tea. Here are a few tips for ensuring your tea taking standards are faultless.

事事皆有禮儀，下午茶亦不例外。下面這些小貼士，可以確保你享受一次完美的下午茶。

1. By definition, afternoon tea is a dainty meal. So, when you drink your tea, take small sips rather than “glugging” it down. There’s a definite order to taking tea, but the actual drinking of tea can take place throughout the “meal”.

1.顯然，下午茶是精緻的一餐。所以，飲茶時要小口啜飲，不能端杯見底。雖然喝茶的順序有講究，但實際上，在整個下午茶過程中，你隨時可以品嚐香茗。

2. Similarly, the food served should be consumed in a restrained fashion as well. Sandwiches are eaten first, followed by the sweet snacks, such as cakes, pastries and scones.

2.同樣，品嚐下午茶食物也是十分講究的。先吃三明治、然後是甜點，例如蛋糕，點心以及英式鬆餅。

3. Scones are always broken, never cut. They should be served with jam and clotted cream, or butter. The jam goes on first, followed by the cream or butter.

3.英式鬆餅往往是小塊的，不再作切分。一般會配上果醬、固體奶油或黃油。先抹果醬，然後再塗奶油或黃油。

4. Crumpets are buttered whole and then cut before eating.

4.吃烤餅時先要整體塗滿黃油，食用前再切開。

5. Cakes and pastries should be made so that the use of a pastry fork is not needed, although if that’s not the case, the use of such an implement is perfectly acceptable.

5.蛋糕和點心都是事先準備好的，因此不需要使用糕點叉，但如遇例外，也完全可以使用這些餐具。

6. If you take milk with your tea, pour the tea first and then add milk.

6.若要在茶中添加牛奶時，切記要先倒茶再加牛奶。

　　關於下午茶的英文閱讀：英國的下午茶和6點茶

AFTERNOON TEA (The traditional 4 o'clock tea)

This is a small meal, not a drink. Traditionally it consists of Tea (or coffee) served with either ofthe following:Freshly baked scones served with cream and jam (Known as a cream tea)

Afternoon tea sandwiches often thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

與其說這是單純的飲茶，不如說這是一頓簡餐。因爲按照傳統，它除了包含茶(或咖啡)等飲料之外，還有不少點心，例如：

點綴有奶油和果醬的現烤熱斯康餅(以奶油茶聞名)

下午茶三明治通常都是無邊的黃瓜三明治}

Assorted pastries

Now most ordinary British families do not have time for afternoon tea at home, but in the past it was a tradition. It became popular about one hundred and fifty years ago, when rich ladies invited their friends to their houses for an afternoon cup of tea. They started offering their visitors sandwiches and cakes too. Soon everyone was enjoying Afternoon tea.

各式各樣的麪糰糕餅

現在大多數英國家庭都沒有時間在家喝下午茶，但在過去這卻是個重要的傳統習慣。150年前，下午茶在英國非常盛行，貴婦們都會邀請自己的朋友來家裏喝下午茶，同時也給來訪者提供三明治和蛋糕等點心，很快人們便開始享受下午茶的無限樂趣了。

HIGH TEA (The traditional 6 o'clock tea)

The British working population did not have afternoon tea. They had a meal about midday, and a meal after work, between five and seven o'clock. This meal was called 'high tea' or just 'tea'.

Traditionally eaten early evening, High tea was a substantial meal that combined delicious sweet foods, such as scones, cakes, buns or tea breads, with tempting savouries, such as cheese on toast, toasted crumpets, cold meats and pickles or poached eggs on toast. This meal is now often replaced with a supper due to people eating their main meal in the evenings rather than at midday.

6點茶(傳統的6點茶)

英國的工人在過去並不喝下午茶。他們通常吃頓午飯，並在工作結束之後大約5點到7點之間再吃點東西，這頓簡餐就被稱爲“high tea”或者就是“tea”。

High tea是有實質內容的一餐，由可口的甜品和誘人的各式點心組成。甜品如斯康餅、蛋糕、圓麪包等;點心如乳酪土司、煎餅、冷凍肉、醃蛋土司等。High tea現在已基本被晚飯取代，因爲通常人們總是習慣把晚飯作爲一天最重要的一餐，而非午餐。