Tea table in European traditions. Tea table setting in the traditions of European houses

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The paradox of the modern world lies in the fact that today we are used to drinking a cup of tea almost on the run, but once entire ceremonies were dedicated to this drink. The leaf of the Camelia Sinensis plant (Chinese camellia) is still covered with many legends in its homeland. In China, there are certain traditions of the tea ceremony. Often it is accompanied by meditation (after all, this drink allows you to concentrate the mind), as well as conversation. About what? Of course, about tea. The guest is simply obliged to pay tribute to its aroma, rich color, delicate taste. And why don't we turn away from the hustle and bustle of life and turn tea drinking into some kind of solemn ritual? So we will not only arrange a holiday for the soul, but also deeply experience the taste of the drink.

Some secrets of tea

Did you know that despite the huge variety of varieties, almost all of them come from the same plant. Yes, both black and green tea, and oolong are the leaves of the same bush - Chinese camellia. Why does the raw material for brewing have a different color, saturation, strength, aroma? It's all about the ability of the tea leaf to oxidize in air. As soon as it is plucked, it begins to turn brown.(similar to the pulp of an apple, which also changes color when exposed to oxygen). If freshly picked leaves are immediately roasted or steamed, you get green tea. If you slow down a little, let it oxidize, and then heat it, oolong will come out. And black tea is obtained when the leaves are allowed time to brown in the air. The tea table in European traditions mainly deals with the latter grade. We'll talk about that.

Evolution of the ceremony

In China, tea is covered with many ancient legends, claiming that this divine drink was known as early as the 5th millennium BC, and enjoyed by the Buddha himself. But the first written sources about the miraculous bush date back only to 770 BC. e. The name of the author is known - Lu Yu. But at that time there was no one tradition of brewing tea. Everyone drank in what much. From the 10th century A. D. e. the following method began to prevail: tea leaves were crushed to a state of fine powder, and then whipped in water until a thick foam. But in our time, this method has remained only in Japan. And all why? Because in the XIII century China was captured by the Mongol tribes. The nomads had no time to grind tea leaves and beat them with special devices. It was much easier to pour boiling water over them. The Mongol invasion radically changed tea traditions not only in China, but also in Europe, where the drink entered in the 17th century.

Classic ceremony

Japan until the 19th century was a country closed to foreigners. Therefore, Europe borrowed the culture of drinking tea from China. English andDutch merchants, followed by the aristocracy and ordinary people, began to brew the leaves in the same way as they did in the Celestial Empire during the Ming dynasty, that is, they poured boiling water over them and insisted a little. But Chinese tea drinking is not just the consumption of a drink, but a whole philosophy. And it was lost by importers who brought Camellia sinensis leaves to Europe. In China, even the setting of a tea table - a chaban table, bowls, a porcelain vessel for brewing a gaiwan - has a symbolic meaning. The low cups of chabei signify feminine energy, while the high cups, wenxiabei, signify masculine energy. It is unlikely that European merchants suspected all these subtleties. Therefore, tea on a new cultural soil has found its own traditions. Let's take a look at them.

Tea table in European traditions

Any imported product gets distribution if it is popular with the nobility. This happened in France, where tea was presented as a gift to King Louis the Sun. The presentation was accompanied by explanations that the de drink cures gout. The king, who suffered from this disease, began to be intensively treated. And soon, as they say, "got involved." He began to drink the drink because of its taste. And after the king and the whole court adopted this fashion. Soon tea drinking became a sign of belonging to high society. And since at that time France was considered a trendsetter, the drink became popular in other countries. But even there, consumption ceremonies gradually began to differ from each other. This is how English, German, Russian tea drinking appeared.

Common European traditions

Since tea was a bonton drink, a sign of taste and belonging to a good society, the surroundings in which it was eaten were also appropriate. However, the philosophy of life, meditation, etc., accompanying the tea ceremony in China, were absent in the Old World. It all boiled down to small talk in the middle of a richly decorated living room. It was considered a special chic to eat tea in a room decorated to look like “Chinese” - with vases, carpets, porcelain sets. It is noteworthy that sugar was not put in the drink. In this, tea shared the fate of coffee and cocoa for a long time. The tart drink has long been considered purely "male". The fair sex strenuously ate tea with all sorts of cakes and pastries. The drink that precedes the meal has turned into a "digestif". This is what a typical European tea table looks like. The photo shows exquisite porcelain tableware surrounded by vases with various desserts (often with biscuits).

Turkish tea table

There was a trend in the consumption of this drink. Northern peoples (English, Scandinavians) are very fond of tea. In the south of Europe (Italy, Spain), this drink is inferior to coffee. It is understandable: when it is hot outside, it is somehow reluctant to drink hot tea. Of the southern peoples on the European continent, only the Turks remained true to the tradition of the Seljuk nomads. In this country, tea consumption outstrips coffee consumption. Turks prefer black varieties with the addition of apple or mint. Tea is brewed in a small teapot, which is placed on top of a large container of boiling water. The drink is poured into small 8-shaped cups, which in Turkishcalled "mess". It is traditionally served with lump sugar.

Russian Traditions

Tea entered our country directly from the north of China. The word itself testifies to this. The Europeans borrowed tea from the southern Chinese dialect, while we borrowed our "tea" from the northern one. Also, the fashion to add some herbs to the leaf - mint, thyme, lemon slices - has firmly entered the Russian tradition. This is a modified method of brewing tea in China, where pieces of dates, jasmine or lotus petals are added to it. But the Russians borrowed samovars from the Turks. But the tea traditions in Russia have enriched the world culture of drinking this drink … with saucers. A scalding drink cools faster in flat and wide plates. It is also delicious to seize "bite" with sugar. The Russian tea table in the old traditions implies the obligatory presence of a samovar, pot-bellied cups, saucers, bagels, many vases with various jams and honey. A “warmer” is often attached to a porcelain or earthenware vessel with tea leaves - a quilted mitten in the shape of a doll. We have popular Chinese varieties, but still the palm belongs to leaves from Ceylon or India.

Traditions of Foggy Albion

This nation hardly consumes coffee. Tea is drunk for breakfast ("English breakfest tea"), for lunch, at 16.00 (5 o'clock tea) and even for lunch (high tea). By the way, the British brought out a new variety of the Chinese begonia bush, acclimatizing it to the conditions of India and Ceylon. It is natural thatthey prefer these varieties. Unlike Russians, who, according to Chinese tradition, prefer crushed tea, the British brew whole leaves. English Breakfast Tea is a dark refreshing drink that is served with a large British breakfast. The most famous English tea party, without fail, takes place from 16.00 to 17.00 daily. Here, the drink serves not as an accompaniment to other dishes, but as the main character. Biscuits and other sweets are served with tea. But the hallmark of the 5 o'clock tea ceremony is milk or cream in a special jug.

French ceremony

In this country, tea is not an everyday drink, and therefore the attitude towards it is special. Do not forget that French tea traditions originate from the royal court, and therefore the surroundings must be truly royal. It is for the Russians and the British to drink tea - a very everyday activity. The Frenchman goes to the Salon du Te for this. This salon is a pastry shop, which, in addition to a huge selection of cakes and desserts, has a wide range of teas. For the French, this celebratory drink is akin to fine wine. Therefore, they are anxious about the quality of tea. Varieties with various flavors are extremely popular in the country - bergamot, rose petals, jasmine, pieces of zest and others. By the way, there are more such Salons du Te in Paris than in London. The most famous tea house, which has been continuously operating since 1854, is the metropolitan institution "Mariage Frere". Chocolates and desserts are served with the drink.

Germantraditions

When tea was just gaining popularity in Europe, some German luminary of medicine issued a verdict that this drink withers the face. Nevertheless, France, a trendsetter, influenced the mores of the Germans, and tea began to be consumed more and more often. Inhabitants of the northern federal lands were especially successful in this. They were influenced by the traditions of the Dutch. During the time of Frederick the Great, the Trading Company of Prussia was founded, which specially equipped ships to China for loose sheets. And now the largest importers of this raw material are located in Hamburg. For a long time, tea could only be purchased in pharmacies. He still has a reputation primarily as a warming drink. The Germans prefer black varieties, in which alcohol is added - rum, Madeira - to “greater the warmness”. Tea is part of punches. At Christmas, it is customary to brew a drink with spices - ginger, cinnamon, cloves.

Call for tea

There are several formats for honoring guests. One of them is a tea table. In European traditions, this format suggests a more relaxed atmosphere, not such a strict dress code as, say, a banquet or a cocktail party. But still, you need to prepare thoroughly for the arrival of guests. The same is tacitly expected from visitors. If you are invited to tea, bring something from the patisserie with you. For the host, one rule is important: the table is set before the guests arrive. But tea is brewed only when everyone has gathered. It would be tactful for the host to ask: maybe someone prefers coffee? There are people who cannot stand tannins. In this case, stock up on herbal "tea". If it's hot outside, make sure to give guests "ice-tees". This is an invention of Americans, immigrants from England. In hotter climates (especially in the southern states), they would refrigerate tea and drink it from glasses filled with ice cubes.

Serving the table

Before we start, let's think about what traditions of tea drinking we will inherit? Japanese? Shall we invite the guests to sit on bamboo mats and beat the tea foam with a whisk? Then in Russian! And how many modern people have a samovar in stock? True, you can make a tea table in European traditions "with a Russian accent." How? Very simple. In this case, the samovar will replace a large kettle. The table for receiving guests can be the most common, dining table. But the tablecloth is recommended to take embroidered. To match it, you need to pick up napkins - decorated with national ornaments. Saucers should be served with cups - deeper than usual. Place a sugar bowl with refined sugar on the table - the Russian way involves drinking tea with a bite. Arrange jam, honey in bowls. Slice the lemon in a saucer. Both teapots - both large and tea leaves - should not stand on the table. They are located to the right of the hostess, who kindly pours the drink into cups for the guests. And if you are a happy owner of a samovar, place it in the middle of the table on a painted tray.

5 o’clock tea and French tea party

This format involves a linen tablecloth in pastel colors to match the service. The table for the tea ceremony in English should be small, just below the dining table. Candles are placed on the tablecloth in candlesticks and dessert plates are placed. Napkins are placed on top of them - also linen, folded in a pyramid or an envelope. Small wine glasses are placed above the plates (if liquor is supposed to be served). For English tea drinking, a jug of hot milk is required. By the way, tea is added to it, and not vice versa. Mandatory muffins, biscuits, small cakes. If there is no free space, place desserts in a tiered dish. If you drizzle the raw tea with whiskey before brewing, then you will have an Irish tea party. An aperitif is served before a French banquet - light wines and snacks. The tea table should be oval or round with a pastel-colored tablecloth and matching napkins. Everything is served on a large cupronickel tray: teapot, sugar bowl, creamer. Desserts are available separately. Happy tea drinking!