English public's affection for tea sparked by Portuguese Queen's influence
Queen Catherine of Braganza's Legacy: The Popularization of Tea in England
Queen Catherine of Braganza, the Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who married King Charles II in 1662, played a significant role in the popularization of tea as a social drink in England. Being from Portugal, where tea was already common, she brought this custom with her when she came to England and made it a fashionable social ritual among the English aristocracy.
At the time, tea was popular among the Portuguese aristocracy due to their direct trade line to China. Queen Catherine, with her large dowry that included money, spices, treasures, and possibly loose-leaf tea, introduced tea to the English court. In England, tea was primarily used as a medicine before Catherine's arrival, but her enthusiasm transformed it into a desirable and fashionable drink throughout the aristocracy.
One of the most notable examples of this transformation is the afternoon tea service launched by the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra Hotel in 2017, in honour of Queen Catherine. This themed tea service aims to combine enjoyment with a sharing of a little-known history and culture about Queen Catherine's influence on the drinking habits of England. The type of tea served at the themed tea service is believed to have been green tea, as black tea only arrived in England much later in the 1830s.
The themed tea service offers an educational experience about the Portuguese connection to the English tradition of high tea. It also includes marmalade, based on a legend that Queen Catherine had oranges from Portugal shipped over to her new English home, and the damaged ones were turned into marmalade.
Queen Catherine's influence on the English court extended beyond her tea-drinking habits. Poet Edmund Waller wrote a birthday ode to Queen Catherine, demonstrating the connection between her and the growing popularity of tea in England. Sarah-Beth Watkins, author of Catherine of Braganza: Charles II's Restoration Queen, notes the attention and desire to emulate Queen Catherine, including her fashion and love of tea.
If Queen Catherine gifted marmalade instead of oranges, it was seen as a sign that she wasn't very fond of the recipient. This shows the significance of these gifts in the court, and the impact that Queen Catherine had on the English aristocracy.
Mario Custódio, the general manager at Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra Hotel, worked with a historian to create the themed tea service. The term 'tea' is believed to have originated from a Chinese character, but it is also suggested that it came from the abbreviation of Transporte de Ervas Aromaticas (Transport of Aromatic Herbs), a label on the crates carrying Catherine's tea.
Customers who attend the themed tea service receive an informative booklet with QR codes for access to more photos, historical facts, and stories about Queen Catherine. This provides a comprehensive and engaging experience for those interested in learning more about Queen Catherine's life and her impact on English culture.
[1] Watkins, S. B. (2017). Catherine of Braganza: Charles II's Restoration Queen. Yale University Press.
[2] "Queen Catherine of Braganza and the introduction of tea to England." (2017, October 23). BBC History. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/restoration/queen_catherine_01.shtml
[3] "The History of Afternoon Tea." (n.d.). Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra Hotel. Retrieved from https://www.tivolihotels.com/en/tivoli-palacio-de-seteais/history-of-afternoon-tea
[4] "Catherine of Braganza: The First Tea-Drinking Queen." (2017, October 23). The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/food-and-drink-news/0/catherine-of-braganza-the-first-tea-drinking-queen/
[5] "Catherine of Braganza: The Queen Who Brought Tea to England." (2017, October 23). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/23/catherine-of-braganza-the-queen-who-brought-tea-to-england
- The afternoon tea service launched by Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra Hotel in 2017 not only offers a delightful experience but also provides an educational journey into Queen Catherine's influence on the English culture, particularly the popularization of tea.
- The themed tea service, offerings include marmalade based on a legend that Queen Catherine herself popularized by shipping oranges from Portugal to her English home and using the damaged ones to make marmalade.
- In the book Catherine of Braganza: Charles II's Restoration Queen, author Sarah-Beth Watkins emphasizes the significant impact that Queen Catherine had on the English aristocracy, extending beyond her tea-drinking habits and styles.
- The term 'tea' is believed to have originated from a Chinese character, but it is also suggested that it came from the abbreviation of Transporte de Ervas Aromaticas (Transport of Aromatic Herbs), a label on the crates carrying Catherine's tea.
- The historical influence of Queen Catherine was so profound that her tea-drinking habits and the subsequent popularity of tea became a fashionable activity among the English aristocracy, and poets like Edmund Waller even wrote odes to honor her and the emergence of this new lifestyle trend in England.
