An American’s guide to tea (FAQs)

From my blog:

Enjoy !

http://expatclaptrap.com/americans-guide-tea-faqs/

Haha, excellent yet again.  My FIL told me that his family was coming over for 'tea' on Boxing Day and it took a good 20 minutes for me to deduce that they were coming over at meal time to partake in a selection of food items, but in no way should I expect this meal to rival the Christmas dinner of the day before.  Progress was made.

Ha! In this house tea bags are considered an aberration imported from America, and don't even get him started on the kind with the strings and little tag attached!  I've always considered them rather convenient for getting the tea bag out of the cup quickly... but what do I know? 

I will never, ever, forget the first time my fiance mentioned the word tea in the meal sense.  It was something to the effect that he had to go "eat his tea", and it completely floored me.  I swear I pictured him chewing tea leaves, and I must have been wearing the most comical expression as my American mind tried to grapple with someone who "ate" tea.   

Now I happily eat my tea right along with him each evening around 6pm....

... which is a concession to my American belief that 4:30 is far too close to lunch to have another meal. 

We do enjoy these blogs of yours, keep them coming - please! 

"If you decide to go out for afternoon tea while visiting London, I’m going to teach you a new British word that it’s essential for you to learn. The word is poncey, (pronounced pon-si). Use this word as an adjective to describe everything as it’s served to you, as in “Oh what a poncey teapot- how lovely.” Or “Oh, these scones are especially poncey, thank you waiter.” Enjoy!"

This will be a sight to behold.

DH has only recently accepted a tea bag but it has to go in the tea pot.  None of this quick bag dipped in a cup of boiling water.  And he has to have his afternoon tea before his 'tea'.  If he misses his 3:30 cuppa he's got to have it before his evening meal.
 
I never could get used to the early morning tea served with biscuits in bed routine.  First of all once I wake up I have to get up to go to the loo and then I'm up for the day.  Secondly I find tea slightly insipid in the morning.  Gotta have black coffee.  Not a good candidate for breakfast in bed anyway -- reminds me too much of being too ill to get up.

Secondly I find tea slightly insipid in the morning.  Gotta have black coffee.  Not a good candidate for breakfast in bed anyway -- reminds me too much of being too ill to get up.

There is a bit in a P. G. Wodehouse where Bertie talks, again, about how great a valet Jeeves is. It has to do with the perfect timing and temperature of the morning tea. Too early and it is abrupt and puts Bertie in a grumpy, harried mood for the rest of the day. Too late and he feels as though he might as well get up and have it at the table....which ruins the whole experience. So Jeeves must hover about in the hall listening for the signs of morning restlessness and nip in with the tea at proper temperature and the papers in order (turned to the cricket).

Agreed with the Token Brit. Not sure if the blog was tongue in cheek, but just on the off chance that someone takes it literally, please don't describe all or any part of an afternoon tea (or indeed anything else!) as 'poncy' unless you wish to offend! My understanding of that word (and I am a Brit, born and raised, South East of England if that matters) is that it means ostentatiously posh/snooty and is used in a derogative fashion.

I think it's pretty clear that's a joke.

Agreed with the Token Brit. Not sure if the blog was tongue in cheek, but just on the off chance that someone takes it literally, please don't describe all or any part of an afternoon tea (or indeed anything else!) as 'poncy' unless you wish to offend! My understanding of that word (and I am a Brit, born and raised, South East of England if that matters) is that it means ostentatiously posh/snooty and is used in a derogative fashion.

I need an irony guide.

1.) American tourists go and spend £60 on "afternoon tea" at London up-scale hotel.
B.) Native British just have a cup and some hobnobs and wonder at the idiocy of American tourists paying so much for something that is not particularly relevant anymore.
III.) American writer writes post about it and uses phrase "poncey" to describe what the tourists could say - even though they may not know the meaning of the word - to describe the meal.
d.) British commenter says that British people may be offended if they mistake the humour.
5.) American smart a$$ (me) questions that a British person should mention that a British person might miss the irony given that Americans don't understand irony.
Six) I don't even really know what irony means any more.

I don't think afternoon tea is just for tourists. Lots of British people I know enjoy afternoon tea at a posh hotel. One of life's pleasures!

I don't think afternoon tea is just for tourists. Lots of British people I know enjoy afternoon tea at a posh hotel. One of life's pleasures!

My goodness a fresh scone with jam and cream. Those little sandwiches....Yes!!

Just have never made it to one of those places. I think I would feel like a pair of flip flops at the country club...

I don't think afternoon tea is just for tourists. Lots of British people I know enjoy afternoon tea at a posh hotel. One of life's pleasures!

I had afternoon tea with scones smothered in clotted cream and jam at the Pavilion Tea Rooms in Torquay as a child. It was a semi-regular occurrence.

So apologies to Flibbertigibbet for my earlier post that wasn't in itself clear, I am indeed clued up on his tongue in cheek writing style and also, It turns out that I am indeed a Poncey git.

Now, where's my cravat.....

DH (UKC) and I got engaged at afternoon tea here at the Hilton. Neither of us had ever done it before, but we had talked about doing it for ages! It was amazing and we both loved it. I'd never had proper scones before (and I even put blackberry jam on them, which I never eat) and he said the clotted cream was really well done too.

I don't think it will become a regular occurrence, but we had a fantastic time. 

Oh and his nickname is "toffee nosed ponce" amongst his friends and family, so I don't think it's *that* offensive where he comes from, possibly?

Has no one else noticed that the first thread is 'What's for tea at your house tonight' (or words to that effect)?   

M.

No need to apologise Token Brit - I thought it was a joke, but wanted to make it crystal clear as I had visions of uproar at the Ritz when a well meaning (or indeed joking) person called them poncy! Oh the horrors

As for whether the term is offensive - it is, though not at expletive level offensive, but more a word used in a sneering manner I suppose! However, as a PP has discovered that does not preclude using the word to describe a friend in a joking way. I find that often an objectively offensive word is used as a term of endearment amongst friends - not sure if that is a British thing or not!