English tea is a mixture of several black teas, usually taken during breakfast. English tea is currently one of the most popular varieties of tea in England.
English tea is also marketed as English Breakfast Tea.
English tea usually involves a mixture of several black teas mainly from Indian and Sri Lanka, although Chinese black tea is also used. Some teas used in English tea include Assam tea, Nilgiri tea and Keemun tea.
The term comes from the popularity of tea drinking in England, which began in full swing during the 19th century.
English tea has a full-bodied taste, with floral undertones. When blended with milk, English tea has a taste reminiscent of freshly toasted bread with honey.
The strength of English tea also makes it ideal as a morning wake-up drink. The mixture of black teas in English tea gives the tea a stimulating quality.
History of English tea
Drinking English tea during breakfast is a common ritual in England. It was invented in the 19th century in Scotland by a tea master named Drysdale, who created a blend of several black teas and marketed it as "Breakfast Tea".
Tea at the time was highly popular in England and soon the name was changed to English tea. The toasted bread with honey taste helped give English tea its connotations as a breakfast tea.
During the 19th century, the English had two meals - breakfast and dinner. It was common for people to take afternoon tea in between, which was a light lunch. With tea already associated with a time, it was not difficult for English tea to become associated with mornings.
English tea became highly popular in England, and taking English tea as part of breakfast has become an English tradition.
Amongst the mixture of teas in English tea is Keemun tea, a Chinese black tea. It is said by some tea authorities that Keemun tea blended with milk creates the famously homely taste.
