《闲话英伦》－不用保温杯的英国人也有饮茶情结？

Britain under the Microscope

A nation of tea drinkers

- 60 billion cups of tea consumed a year in the UK

- over 900 cups per person!

- Tea was imported from China and was very expensive in the beginning

- Only affordable to the rich upper class

- Tea was kept in tea caddies (a small safe)

- Boston Tea Party

- Put the kettle on = to make tea 

- Peak in electricity consumption during commercial breaks of a popular TV show because people are all making tea!

- Have a cuppa (cup of tea)

- Make a brew 

- English people mostly drink black tea (with milk/sugar)

- "builder's tea"

- Employers have to give employees a tea break 

- Younger generation prefer specialized tea (peppermint/flower/herbal)

Expressions relating to "tea"

1. ...not my cup of tea (don't like...)

    Sports is not my cup of tea.

2. Storm in a teacup 

3. ...give someone tea and sympathy...

4. ...not for all the tea in China 

    I am not going to work overtime, not for all the tea in China!

Next time, we are going to take you to a fancy afternoon tea!