Tea and Irish Culture

When it comes to Irish culture, not only is tea both a beverage and a medicine, it’s also a social ritual. The Irish consume on average, about four to six cups of tea per day, amounting to 7 and even 8 pounds of dried tea leaves over the course of a year – easily one of the highest rate of per-capita tea consumption in the world (They are now ranked no. 2, behind India.). There are 4 million people Ireland, and 3 million are tea drinkers. No respectable household would be found without tea, and the pubs are now legally required to provide you with a cup. At breakfast, lunch, and teatime, around 4 P.M., it’s all about tea.

Elevenses, is served like the name suggests at 11:00 AM. It’s served with scones and biscuits. This should hold one over until lunch time.

Afternoon Tea is served between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. You should serve light sweet items for this tea.

High Tea is served at 6:00 PM. It’s also called supper or dinner depending on what part of the country you’re in. High tea is more popular in the north than the south. You serve much more substantial fare with this tea, such as meat or fish, breads and fruit. One can never forget the unbelievable flavor and depth, of an bourbon barrel-aged Irish cheddar cheese.

As an import from India, the Anglo-Irish aristocracy introduced tea to Ireland around the 19th century. Being too expensive for most Irish, the lower prices and generally improving economic conditions allowed for more and more of the populace to try the new beverage.

The Irish tend to drink tea with sugar and generous amounts of whole milk, or cream. The whole milk is always added before the tea itself. Tea devotes extol the drink’s power to aid digestion, cure headaches, and provide a gentle pick-me-up.

The Irish have a tendency to take their tea stronger than that of the English – they have a saying that a good cup of tea should be “strong enough for a mouse to trot on.” Initially the Irish relied on U.K. importers for their tea supply, which became a problem during World War II, when Ireland chose not to ally itself with the United Kingdom.

Over recent year, they’ve gravitated toward East African suppliers, who tend to provide more aromatic leaves. This is why at Tin Roof Teas, our O’Sullivan’s Favorite is a CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl), Burundi, African style leaf. Traditionally made using free leaves, the Irish over the past few decades have come to enjoy their favorite teas steeped within a ready-made teabag. The Irish still maintain a very high standard, when it comes to the topic of tea. Generally, the quality of tea found in Ireland, is generally much higher than that found within the states.

In Ireland, the number one selling brand of tea is Lyons Tea. Lyons tea could be found in Dublin since 1902. Barry’s tea located in Cork; has been around since 1901 and have provided high-end loose tea to people of Munster for over a century. The most famous destination to have a cuppa in Dublin, would be the original Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street, which has been brewing tea since the 1840s.

Source: www.netplaces.com/irish-history/family-and-food/a-cup-of-irish-tea.htm