Irish Tea Culture- Warming Hands And Hearts (2024)

FAQs

Irish Tea Culture- Warming Hands And Hearts? ›

Considered by many a necessity to keep tempers pleasant in a country that's cold and rainy for most of the year, the Irish tea culture dates back to the 1800s. Imported from English merchants, Irish tea was generally of cheaper quality so they added milk, sometimes as much as 1/3 of the cup, to cover up the taste.

When you arrive at a home in Northern Ireland/Ireland you will be offered a cup of tea. You must always reject the first cup and insist you are okay without, even if you're parched. Never fear however, it will be offered again, and when it is you're welcome to say that “Aye, you would love a wee cup, now.”

The average Irish person drinks between six and seven cups a day, making Ireland one of the leading nations in the world for tea consumption. They use almost seven pounds of dry tea leaves every year! Many Irish people start their day with a cup, drink throughout the day, and end their day with another cup.

Irish breakfast tea is a blend of several black teas, most often a combination of Assam teas and Ceylon teas. Irish tea brands, notably Barry's, Bewley's, Lyons and Robert Roberts in the Republic and Nambarrie's and Thompson's Punjana in Northern Ireland are heavily weighted towards Assam.

Quercetin and catechins found in this tea have been found to contribute to the health of the heart and blood vessels. Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory agent which prevents injury to the heart. Quercetin and catechin reduce the blood level of bad cholesterols, thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Think ruffles, timeless silhouettes and any fun print or pattern you can find! I also recommend light and bright colours for your tea party. If you are having afternoon tea in a warmer season, maybe opt for a cotton or linen dress. If it's cold where you are, then maybe velvet or tweed will be more appropriate.

Irish Breakfast tea emphasizes the use of Assam and has a more robust and intense flavor than English breakfast. Like their whiskey, the Irish enjoy their tea extra strong. The addition of Assam gives the tea a reddish hue, and it exhibits a malty flavor.

The Irish are noted for drinking their tea strong and with lots of milk. Traditionally milk was poured into tea cups first to prevent the hot tea from cracking fine china cups.

They call a cup of tea "cupan tae" or "cuppa tay" on the Emerald Isle.

What is the number one tea in Ireland? ›

Barry's Tea is the most popular tea in Ireland, and we sipped many a pot of this golden blend. I like mine with raw sugar and a touch of milk. My travel companion drinks his plain. It was always served with two bags of tea inside a metal teapot, steeped for 3-5 minutes, and then teabags removed.

The Irish tea culture is an important Irish custom. In fact, drinking tea is as important here if not more important than the Irish drinking culture. Tea is enjoyed in even greater volume than alcohol between family and friends- at all hours. A late night 'cuppa', cup of tea number seven at the end of a long day.

Irish breakfast tea has a strong Assam component, which gives it a more robust, malty flavor and reddish color. “My theory is that tea must have been growing in popularity in Ireland around the time that the British East India Company was producing tea in Assam,” says Sanchez.

A traditional tea may include tiny sandwiches, scones with jam, cakes and other baked goods and plenty of Irish tea. We've prepared a sample menu to assist you in planning your own Irish tea. Irish Soda Bread is made with buttermilk. It is cut into wedges and served with sweet butter.

The host or hostess can share the job of pouring the tea with close friends, but he or she should always pour the first cup. The saucer should be raised with the left hand, while the teacup should be held with the right hand.

Remember to stay as quiet as possible while enjoying afternoon tea. This means you should take small sips and small bites of food. You should never chug your tea or swig your tea back. You should also take small bites of your treats.