How do arab coffee and tea customs differ around the world?

Tea drinking splits into distinct regional styles. In India, black tea is boiled with milk, sugar, cardamom, clove, anise, ginger and black pepper, then sold on the street in small clay cups that are thrown away after use. In England, afternoon tea pairs Indian black tea with sandwiches and desserts; Earl Grey, flavored with bergamot, is widely drunk.

Russia took tea in through the Silk Road and served it from the samovar, while Morocco brews mint green tea poured from a height. India is the second-largest tea exporter after China, which shapes what lands in British and Russian cups. Readers who normally drink arab coffee or other brewed drinks will recognize the same logic applied to a different leaf.

Tea, this magical leaf of the East, has evolved into a dazzling array of regional customs on its journey across national borders. From the spice tea wafting with cardamom and clove on Indian streets, to the elegant three-tier afternoon tea in England; from the concentrated essence of black tea in Russian samovars, to the sweet, refreshing iced tea of the American South; and to the mint green tea brewed with the high-pour technique in Morocco—every country interprets this cup in its own way. This article will take you on a tour of tea-drinking traditions around the world, and take a deep dive into exactly what kind of black tea is drunk at English afternoon tea and which classic British black tea brands are worth trying. Whether you are a seasoned coffee lover or a newcomer exploring tea, this global tour of tea customs will open a distinctive journey for your taste buds.

Here are some tea-drinking traditions from around the world:

India: Indian Tea

When people think of Indian tea, the first word that comes to most minds is Chai. This beverage can be found everywhere on Indian streets and is the most widespread tea drink in the country. As the world's second-largest tea exporter after China, India has abundant black tea production. Locals boil black tea together with milk, sugar, and various spices such as cardamom, clove, anise, ginger, and black pepper, producing a rich, aromatic drink that refreshes the mind. Street vendors sell it almost around the clock, usually served in small clay cups made from local materials and discarded after drinking, giving it a distinctive character.

England: Afternoon Tea

Tea was first introduced to Britain from China and gradually became popular. One account says that when the British heard that people in China drank tea with milk and sugar (in fact, this claim is highly inaccurate, especially for that era), they followed suit.

The traditional "afternoon tea," namely tea paired with sandwiches and desserts, conveniently filled the long hungry stretch between breakfast and dinner.

British tea mainly comes from India and is usually flavored black tea. Earl Grey is an extremely popular British tea, flavored with bergamot (a citrus fruit).

Russia: Tea + Samovar

Russia's tea-drinking tradition is inseparable from the samovar, although this vessel is rarely used today. Tea entered Russia via the Silk Road in small quantities and at high prices, enjoyed only by the elite and a lucky few. The samovar was used to ration tea (which was equally significant during the Soviet era).

A samovar usually consists of a small teapot containing concentrated black tea. People pour a small amount of the concentrated brew into a cup, then dilute it with hot water from the main body of the samovar. Milk, sugar, or lemon are usually provided, but most people prefer to drink it plain.

Russians also had an interesting tea-drinking habit in the past—drinking from a small saucer (usually meant to hold the teacup). This tradition stemmed from serving tea at boiling temperature (unlike the gentler water temperatures in Chinese tea ceremony). Drinking from a saucer was associated with the lower classes, who had neither the time nor the patience to wait for the tea to cool before returning to work. These days, though, you rarely see anyone drinking tea from a saucer.

America: Sweet Iced Tea

America's tea tradition is inseparable from the sweet iced tea of the Southern states. Before World War II, trade between China and the United States flourished, and tea was the most widely consumed beverage in America. This was especially true of iced tea, which originated during the hot summer of the 1904 World's Fair. Today, American-style iced tea can be found in many countries around the world.

Morocco: Mint Tea (atay)

Morocco has long ranked among the top in per capita tea consumption. What surprises many people is that the largest importer of Chinese green tea (especially gunpowder green tea, a relatively strong green tea) is Morocco.

In Morocco, people usually brew green tea in a pot, adding plenty of fresh mint and sugar. Then they pour the tea into small glasses from a great height. This tradition is believed to aerate the tea and help the sugar dissolve evenly.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.