Stupid question for members from the UK

[NoPoint2Life]

I have been genuinely curious about this for a while. After seeing @Forever Sleep thread about biscuits today, I figured I might as well Just ask you guys.

How often do you actually have tea and biscuits there? I read psychological thrillers and sometimes they take place in the UK and it seems like they are constantly having a cuppa and biscuits like it can magically solve all their problems.

And are you an outcast if you don't like tea? Here in the US most people drink coffee and me being being an outcast as usual, I of course, don't like it.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I have been genuinely curious about this for a while. After seeing @Forever Sleep thread about biscuits today, I figured I might as well Just ask you guys.

How often do you actually have tea and biscuits there? I read psychological thrillers and sometimes they take place in the UK and it seems like they are constantly having a cuppa and biscuits like it can magically solve all their problems.

And are you an outcast if you don't like tea? Here in the US most people drink coffee and me being being an outcast as usual, I of course, don't like it.

Ha ha- amazing! I used to drink so much more tea than I do now. I pretty much only have a cuppa with breakfast now but yeah, there's definitely something soothing about stopping and making tea.

As for a proper tea ceremony type thing, I suspect it's only people who have time! Both my parents and grandparents did it more. Nothing really posh but, they'd likely use a tea pot rather than sling a tea bag in a mug and a tin of biscuits would accompany it.

An 'English Cream Tea' (if you're interested) is tea or coffee with scones and jam/cream. There's even a Devon way to do it- spreading the cream first, then the jam. Or, a Cornish way- spreading the jam first and then, the cream.

Funny, isn't it? How there are these stereotypes? I don't think I've ever eaten a cucumber sandwich with the crusts cut off. Doesn't sound too appealing just on its own. But, that's another British classic I think.

Yes, I think people do think you're a bit odd if you don't like tea. Lol. I was quite late to it really and my friend used to hate drinking her tea alone. I guess it must have been her that got me in to it.

I hate having to make tea for other people though. I never seem to get it right.

How about you? Do you do the things your country is renowned for? I think people often think Brits will automatically have a nice, cultured accent too. That's the other one. My accent is horrid!

 

[greebo6]

I'm English and I like and drink both tea and coffee. Personally I drink more tea overall than coffee but either way I often have a few biscuits with it. I would guess many people in the U.K are the same. There is still a particular fondness (and bigger consumption) here in U.K for tea compared to a lot of other places in the world.
(And yes, a nice cuppa and tasty biscuits can definitely help you relax and feel a bit better)

 

[NoPoint2Life]

Ha ha- amazing! I used to drink so much more tea than I do now. I pretty much only have a cuppa with breakfast now but yeah, there's definitely something soothing about stopping and making tea.

As for a proper tea ceremony type thing, I suspect it's only people who have time! Both my parents and grandparents did it more. Nothing really posh but, they'd likely use a tea pot rather than sling a tea bag in a mug and a tin of biscuits would accompany it.

An 'English Cream Tea' (if you're interested) is tea or coffee with scones and jam/cream. There's even a Devon way to do it- spreading the cream first, then the jam. Or, a Cornish way- spreading the jam first and then, the cream.

Funny, isn't it? How there are these stereotypes? I don't think I've ever eaten a cucumber sandwich with the crusts cut off. Doesn't sound too appealing just on its own. But, that's another British classic I think.

Yes, I think people do think you're a bit odd if you don't like tea. Lol. I was quite late to it really and my friend used to hate drinking her tea alone. I guess it must have been her that got me in to it.

I hate having to make tea for other people though. I never seem to get it right.

How about you? Do you do the things your country is renowned for? I think people often think Brits will automatically have a nice, cultured accent too. That's the other one. My accent is horrid!

In the books I read, they always use a teapot lol. I get what you say about not making it right. Because I couldn't make a pot of coffee if someone offered me
$1 million as I've never done it since I don't drink it.

I have heard of the cucumber sandwiches, although I'm not sure exactly where because it is definitely more posh than in my books. But interesting to know that it's not common.

I feel like the British don't exactly have the best reputation over here for eating tasty food. I normally love anything with jam, but I have always found scones to be way too dry.

I love a British accent! Yours can't sound horrible, they always sound good and classy and cultured!

Hmm since I am usually the outcast I would say no to your question. You already know I don't like coffee and I don't drive. I've never been much of a drinker, but with the meds I take I wouldn't dare anyway. I love hamburgers, but I do not eat hotdogs so that's another weird thing.

Don't we have a reputation for being rude? And people tell me all the time that I have an accent from where I grew up, but I don't hear it at all. Oh, that's another thing I love- from when II started working I realized that to me it seems all British people turn everything they say into a question lol. It sounds so polite.You guys must make awesome therapists. … never mind I just remembered seeing all the comments on this site saying quite the opposite.

I'm English and I like and drink both tea and coffee. Personally I drink more tea overall than coffee but either way I often have a few biscuits with it. I would guess many people in the U.K are the same. There is still a particular fondness (and bigger consumption) here in U.K for tea compared to a lot of other places in the world.
(And yes, a nice cuppa and tasty biscuits can definitely help you relax and feel a bit better)

Is coffee even all that popular over there? I have read that tea actually has more caffeine than coffee. I'm not sure if that's true, but I think the caffeine counts for a part of the consumption of coffee over here.

i've never liked tea. It just tastes bland to me. And coffee taste too yucky, I have to refrain myself from making a disgusted face every time I decided to give it another try. The last few years when I was working, I would get more and more tired and tried to figure out a way to like coffee. So like twice a year, I will drink usually iced coffee, but it has to be from a specific chain of stores here and it has to be made very very sweet.

 

[Pluto]

 

[ConfusedClouds]

One thing I never understood is how different (mainly in strength) different teabags can be. Maybe there is more to the actual 'taste' side of things but my sense of taste is rubbish!

In the UK most brands of teabags, even supermarket own brands, are fairly strong - don't have to brew too long OR (maybe offensive to some) can get 2 cups out of 1 bag.

Whenever I have travelled, its hard to even get 1 cup out of a teabag - trying to mash it against the side of the cup to try to release more 'flavour' (which can also back fire). Lipton yellow label comes to mind for me as being a classic common option that is frustratingly weak.

There's just something comforting/homely/familiar about a cup of tea. Whereas for me, coffee feels more like an active attempt at a pick-me-up, trying to give myself a boost of motivation/kick myself into gear.

Biscuits very much apply to both. I guess the tea and biscuits comes about with the homely/leisurely experience of a social cup of tea and a catch up with friends rather than an on-the-go coffee. I feel like there's a lot more variety/particulars with the taste/make/type of coffee, where you can't really go wrong with brewing a tea.

(Do NOT add the milk first.... hot water needs to brew the tea before cooling down the temp with adding the milk to taste preference)

Wow, this was gonna be a short addition to the conversation. Turns out I can get passionate about something I just thought was a neutral part of my culture!!!

 

[ForgottenAgain]

I've been living in England for several years now and, from my experience, it's very much part of the culture. At my first job, people would have tea around 4 or even 5 times a day. There was one colleague that would go around the desks asking "tea?" and memorize everyone's choices and make them. Other people would help as well but he was always the tea guy.

I was not a tea drinker but after that experience I started drinking more and ended up getting used to it. The biscuits are nice as well, feels comforting to drink with tea.

I assume people drink tea at home too but my experience was only work related due to moving country as an adult. I miss those moments, people would take a break to make some tea and chat. Sometimes someone would choose a tea that was different from their usual and the other colleagues would comment things like "ooohh adventurous!", it was funny. I like this tradition.

 

[Ironborn]

I always took a thermos of Earl Grey tea to work because otherwise all I could get was the god-awful stuff they had in vending machines.
Never drank a lot of coffee because it just made me want to piss, not ideal when I was driving.

 

[ConfusedClouds]

Several offices I have worked in have sheets/laminates near the kettle with everyone's name and hot drink preferences (tea/coffee, black/white, sugar/not) - saves the memorising. But you are SO right @ForgottenAgain - if someone changes anything 'actually I'll have a sugar today' it really does get commented on (nothing lasting, just observational jokes at that moment - maybe if you did the same change for weeks then someone might pause and ask more genuinely whats up!)

 

[NoPoint2Life]

One thing I never understood is how different (mainly in strength) different teabags can be. Maybe there is more to the actual 'taste' side of things but my sense of taste is rubbish!

In the UK most brands of teabags, even supermarket own brands, are fairly strong - don't have to brew too long OR (maybe offensive to some) can get 2 cups out of 1 bag.

Whenever I have travelled, its hard to even get 1 cup out of a teabag - trying to mash it against the side of the cup to try to release more 'flavour' (which can also back fire). Lipton yellow label comes to mind for me as being a classic common option that is frustratingly weak.

There's just something comforting/homely/familiar about a cup of tea. Whereas for me, coffee feels more like an active attempt at a pick-me-up, trying to give myself a boost of motivation/kick myself into gear.

Biscuits very much apply to both. I guess the tea and biscuits comes about with the homely/leisurely experience of a social cup of tea and a catch up with friends rather than an on-the-go coffee. I feel like there's a lot more variety/particulars with the taste/make/type of coffee, where you can't really go wrong with brewing a tea.

(Do NOT add the milk first.... hot water needs to brew the tea before cooling down the temp with adding the milk to taste preference)

Wow, this was gonna be a short addition to the conversation. Turns out I can get passionate about something I just thought was a neutral part of my culture!!!

I love your passion

I've been living in England for several years now and, from my experience, it's very much part of the culture. At my first job, people would have tea around 4 or even 5 times a day. There was one colleague that would go around the desks asking "tea?" and memorize everyone's choices and make them. Other people would help as well but he was always the tea guy.

I was not a tea drinker but after that experience I started drinking more and ended up getting used to it. The biscuits are nice as well, feels comforting to drink with tea.

I assume people drink tea at home too but my experience was only work related due to moving country as an adult. I miss those moments, people would take a break to make some tea and chat. Sometimes someone would choose a tea that was different from their usual and the other colleagues would comment things like "ooohh adventurous!", it was funny. I like this tradition.

4-5 times a day?? I feel bad for your colleague doing the orders. They must have not been able to get any other work done.
Was there anyone who didn't drink tea and didn't stop for a little break? Because I always felt at work like since I didn't drink coffee I didn't get that few minutes to go up to the coffee pot and chat with whoever else was there. Of course, if you took too long people got annoyed. But I felt like I got stuck working more just because of

I always took a thermos of Earl Grey tea to work because otherwise all I could get was the god-awful stuff they had in vending machines.
Never drank a lot of coffee because it just made me want to piss, not ideal when I was driving.

I didn't even consider that you have tea vending machines. We have the coffee ones here and they also have a reputation for being horrible.

Several offices I have worked in have sheets/laminates near the kettle with everyone's name and hot drink preferences (tea/coffee, black/white, sugar/not) - saves the memorising. But you are SO right @ForgottenAgain - if someone changes anything 'actually I'll have a sugar today' it really does get commented on (nothing lasting, just observational jokes at that moment - maybe if you did the same change for weeks then someone might pause and ask more genuinely whats up!)

Wow, you guys really take your tea seriously even at work.
That's funny that if they change the way they like it everyone comments. But I would hate to have that much attention on me!

 

[ConfusedClouds]

Ha, I didn't even realise it would be seen as passionate. Amazing how cultural norms in your own country can be seen differently elsewhere!

Yea the tea vending machines are normally the same as the cheap coffee ones that dispense instant coffee - they chuck a cheap tea bag (or instant coffee powder) in a cup then the hot water and thats it. Modern coffee vending machines aren't too bad where they brew from the actual beans. Now more rare to see tea vending machines in work places where urns/hot water taps are more common these days where you can brew your own instantly not than even needing to wait for a kettle to boil.

I guess 'tea runs' are an excuse to get away from the desk, but generally with vending machines and hot water taps, you're back at the desk quicker than if you went to the loo. And fewer 'work' disruptions were its generally taken in turns to do the round. I guess because you also bring the drink back to your desk, its way shorter than fag/smoke breaks where you have to go outside. I often see leisurely drink breaks as my unofficial equivalent to not going out for a cigarette break.

Tea pots are much more used in relaxed social settings (cafe or at home) - usually much more efficient to just chuck tea bags in cups individually.

 

[NoPoint2Life]

Ha, I didn't even realise it would be seen as passionate. Amazing how cultural norms in your own country can be seen differently elsewhere!

Yea the tea vending machines are normally the same as the cheap coffee ones that dispense instant coffee - they chuck a cheap tea bag (or instant coffee powder) in a cup then the hot water and thats it. Modern coffee vending machines aren't too bad where they brew from the actual beans. Now more rare to see tea vending machines in work places where urns/hot water taps are more common these days where you can brew your own instantly not than even needing to wait for a kettle to boil.

I guess 'tea runs' are an excuse to get away from the desk, but generally with vending machines and hot water taps, you're back at the desk quicker than if you went to the loo. And fewer 'work' disruptions were its generally taken in turns to do the round. I guess because you also bring the drink back to your desk, its way shorter than fag/smoke breaks where you have to go outside. I often see leisurely drink breaks as my unofficial equivalent to not going out for a cigarette break.

Tea pots are much more used in relaxed social settings (cafe or at home) - usually much more efficient to just chuck tea bags in cups individually.

Don't even get me started on smoke breaks. There weren't many people who smoked at my old job, but It felt like they were always out there. I felt like they really got away with wasting a lot of time. We technically weren't even allowed a 15 minute break off the clock. So why did they feel they were entitled to all their cigarette breaks?

 

[MyTimeIsUp]

This made me laugh.

I'm English and hate tea, it's rank. I love coffee. I rarely eat biscuits and it's never with a drink of any sort. The only time I eat biscuits is if I haven't had any for a *long* time then I'll buy some or if I'm seeing a particular friend as he loves biscuits with his tea but not dipped in them (he's over 20 years older)

I think that's more old school English (tea and biscuits).

 

[NoPoint2Life]

This made me laugh.

I'm English and hate tea, it's rank. I love coffee. I rarely eat biscuits and it's never with a drink of any sort. The only time I eat biscuits is if I haven't had any for a *long* time then I'll buy some or if I'm seeing a particular friend as he loves biscuits with his tea but not dipped in them (he's over 20 years older)

I think that's more old school English (tea and biscuits).

Glad to have a fellow outcast when it comes to beverage choices!

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I don't have tea or biscuits. Then again, I am an outlier when it comes to things like this since there isn't much that I like to do in the first place

 

[NoPoint2Life]

I don't have tea or biscuits. Then again, I am an outlier when it comes to things like this since there isn't much that I like to do in the first place

You can join me and mytimeisup in being rebels when it comes to our national drinks.

 

[Blooper]

Never lol. My time is better spent doing something other than waiting for a kettle to boil just to drink something that isn't really better than water.

 

[vanillamilkshakes]

funny but not true, I couldn't even tell you the last time I had tea and biscuits. people really don't care about it here

 

[allinvain]

barely anyone actually does that now lmao