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What is the deal with Brits and tea?
Turns out, it’s all to do with taxes. Tea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company and was presented to King Charles II. His Portuguese wife, Princess Catherine of Braganza, set the trend in drinking tea, which then caught on among the aristocrats of the time.
Why do English drink gin?
Gin was popularised in England following the accession of William of Orange in 1688. Gin provided an alternative to French brandy at a time of both political and religious conflict between Britain and France.
Do the British really love tea?
Whether they take their tea with milk, sugar, lemon or just plain, it’s clear that the British have a fondness for its flavour. There’s something about that firm bitterness that sparks devotion: the British consume 60 billion cups per year, according to the Tea and Infusions Organisation.
How do the English drink gin?
Of course, you can always drink your gin straight. Some people will even tell you that it’s the best way to enjoy gin. Just pour the gin over a few ice cubes and drop in a lime wedge if you fancy. Naturally, to enjoy a spirit neat it must be of good quality – there’s nothing worse than nasty, bitter, cheap gin.
Why do the English drink so much?
If you’ve ever wondered why we Brits are so famed for drinking too much – a new study might just have found the answer. According to data studied from 193 countries, those who live in cooler places with fewer daylight hours are much more likely to consume alcohol than those in sunnier and warmer climates.
Why do Brits love Gin and tonic?
Gin and tonics were originally intended to ward off malaria out in the British Empire because the quinine in the tonic acted as an anti-malarial agent. As with many traditional gin drinks it began with good medical intentions.
Why did British drink gin and tonic?
In India and other tropical regions, malaria was a persistent problem. British officers in India in the early 19th century took to adding a mixture of water, sugar, lime and gin to the quinine in order to make the drink more palatable, thus gin and tonic was born.
What is Earl Grey tea?
Earl Grey is one of the most recognized flavored teas in the world. This quintessentially British tea is typically a black tea base flavored with oil from the rind of bergamot orange, a citrus fruit with the appearance and flavor somewhere between an orange and a lemon with a little grapefruit and lime thrown in.
When did gin become popular in the UK?
In 1830, things finally started looking up for England’s gin scene. A French-born Irishman named Aeneas Coffey introduced a new still that modified the existing continuous column still and essentially revolutionized liquor production around the world.
Why do England’s poorest people drink so much gin?
England’s poorest people began drinking more gin less responsibly (a futile lack of social mobility can do that to a person). Meanwhile, royalty and high society sipped tamely as more of a fashion statement than an emotional or psychological release.
When did tea become an acceptable drink in England?
Accordingly, tea drinking became a central aspect of aristocratic society in England by the 1680s, particularly among women who drank it while visiting in the home. Catherine of Braganza’s tea-drinking habit made tea an acceptable drink for both gentlemen and ladies.
Why was the Gin Act 1751 introduced?
“It was blamed for the death of thousands by overconsumption, murder, negligence, and insanity, which incited measures to outlaw its production and consumption, but to little avail.” Then came the Gin Act 1751, a parliamentary measure intended to crack down on spirits consumption.