Why did the British start putting milk in their tea?
Tea, we all know, originated in ancient China, almost as early as 2700 B.C. Back then, it used to be a medicinal beverage. However, towards 300 B.C., the Chinese started drinking it as a regular drink and began its plantation as well as processing. But, it was centuries later that the world got a taste of these aromatic leaves, when tea entered Europe in the early 17th century AD through Dutch traders. This beverage made its way into Britain in the 1660s, thanks to Catherine of Braganza, the wife of King Charles II. Catherine was the daughter of the king of Portugal, where tea was already a popular drink among the aristocracy.
Well, if you were a tea lover in the 17th century England, you would have to be a member of the royal family or from the wealthy class. Back then, it was a super expensive luxury drink with very high taxes. People would brew it in fancy pots and drink it in fine bone china cups. The staple drink of the not-so-privileged class in England during that time was, however, ale.
How did tea become popular among commoners in England?
It was during the late 18th century that the taxes on tea were slashed drastically in England, making it available to the common man. But what was the reason behind this economic measure? Well, the price of ale had increased owing to bad harvests and high price of grains.
Adding milk to tea: The origin of this British tradition
Well, if you thought that the English people started putting milk in their tea to enhance taste, you are wrong. The story behind this popular British tradition is actually linked to the popularity and availability of this hot beverage among the commoners. When they started drinking tea, they couldn’t afford the luxurious porcelain pots and cups like their privileged counterparts. Their ordinary cups couldn’t bear the heat of piping hot tea, leading to cracks in most cases. This is when the Britishers came up with the brilliant idea of pouring milk in room temperature first in the cup, followed by the boiling tea. Evidently, the milk brought down the temperature of the beverage, keeping their cherished cup of tea intact. There was a bonus too: The bitterness of tea was reduced!