A Guide to Afternoon Tea Etiquette
A formal British-style afternoon tea follows a long tradition, but it is also a chance to enjoy time with others. These steps explain common customs and the reasons behind them, so you can focus on the gathering rather than worry about making mistakes.
Step 1: Pour and prepare the tea
The host traditionally pours tea for the guests. Pour the tea into each cup before adding milk; historically, this allowed the host to judge the tea's strength before guests adjusted their drinks.
Choose milk or lemon, but not both. Lemon's acidity can cause milk proteins to curdle, or form lumps. Also, avoid dunking biscuits, scones, or sandwiches in your tea. Dunking can leave crumbs in the cup and is considered improper at a formal table.
Step 2: Handle your cup and saucer
- etiquette:
- customary rules for polite behavior in a particular setting
- acidity:
- the quality of containing acid, as lemon juice does
- curdle:
- to separate and form lumps
- porcelain:
- a hard, smooth ceramic material often used to make cups and dishes
- non-dominant:
- describing the hand you usually use less for skilled tasks
- savory:
- having a salty or spiced flavor rather than a sweet one
- sequence:
- an order in which things happen or are arranged
- clotted cream:
- a thick cream traditionally served with scones
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How does the introduction frame the relationship between etiquette and enjoyment?
- 2Why did hosts traditionally pour tea before guests added milk?
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About this how-to / procedural passage for 8th Grade
“A Guide to Afternoon Tea Etiquette” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about Tea Etiquette, written for 8th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (488 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.