Tea
 

During the Big One, WW II, Brits were not as concerned with Nazis crossing the channel, as they were with the Japs threatening tea supplies. It was such a distraction the allied powers sent Chrisinhuston's folks and Julia Child to the far east, to allay Britain's fears. That way the Brits could carry on instead of substituting pints, and focus on D-day. To that end this film was created in 1941...

I was doing a long 20 mile hike in the rain last March, and there was a comfort station at about the 2/3 mark. The volunteers there were serving snacks and tea, and it really was a nice touch. I can see how having a tea truck show up at some bombed out building in WW2 would actually be a nice touch. A little reminder of civilization when everything is falling apart.
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In working-class cultures in the nineteenth century, and into the 20th, tea was one of those things that if you couldn't afford it, it meant you were a pauper. To not be able to afford tea and sugar was a big deal, culturally. You might have to reuse the leaves til it was basically hot water, but you made sure you had tea and sugar.

It does have, historically, a really strange place in our culture. Probably less of a big deal now, but it used to be a kind of touchstone. Important to all classes, for slightly different reasons. Drunk dark and heavu, it took on aspects of masculinity. Made weak and sweet, it took on aspects of infancy, or convalescence. It has upper-class associations because of how it entered our culture, and because of the deliberate culture-preserving activities of the British in India and other places. And it has working-class associations because of how strongly it was adopted by those classes as the price came down and availability grew - and the way that it took on a kind of social importance in how people of those classes perceived themselvses and their economic health.

It became, as well, a response to crisis. Because of when it entered into the british market, and because it is a very mild stiimulant, it was seen as having medicinal or constitution-enhancing properties. Weak sweet tea ended up as a go to response to shock or trauma. It was used to help convalescents, or ailing children.

All that mushed together across a couple of centuries and turned into a symbol of british pluck and common sense in the face of adversity.

If we'd thrown bales of cotton, or barrels of molasses, in Boston harbor, we'd still be in the commonwealth. ;)

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The cup that cheers. :thumb:

It appears to us outsiders a cuppa is much more than a drink.

It's a fundamental part of our national DNA.

The first thing anyone does in a crisis is make a cup of tea.

I confidently predict that, in the event of the Russians lobbing a bucket of nuclear sunshine at us, most of the nation would head for the kettle and the teapot.

There should be enough time between the initial warning and oblivion to down at least one cuppa.

www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/

Right. Must go.

Off to make Dad and me a cup of tea. (I am NOT joking).

As a working-class northerner, I am currently swigging from a mug of strong tea.

Likewise!

I said that I wasn't joking! :):):)

A couple of tea-mostlyers. :haha:

I buy tea in my local pub. Because it's the cheapest place to buy it.
But the best place to have it in town is The Pink Teapot. Because they do amazing teacakes too [sweet but fairly plain buns with currants/ raisins in, toasted], and provide lots of butter.

And great big cups with saucers.

Tea and a teacake.
I would actually rather have that than a cocktaili. And that's not even just because of where that would end up!

Consensual Tea

Very good

I think that is an excellent way to have THE discussion about any number of things !

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