英剧中，19世纪的淑女名媛们喜爱享用下午茶，那个场景，看起来惬意无边。直至今日，下午茶仍是英国文化中重要的一部分。同学们，你们知道英式下午茶的由来吗？

The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty， what could be nicer than having a relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking a break from studying？

But are you familiar with the culture of afternoon tea —its origins， whats included， and the proper etiquette？ We sum up a few things you need to know about this traditional English custom so that you can enjoy it more.

Where it all began

While the tradition of drinking tea dates back to more than 3，000 BC in China， it was not until the mid-17th century that the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared in the UK.

In 1840， Anna Maria Russell， the seventh Duchess of Bedford， started asking for a tea tray with butter， bread and cakes at 4pm every day， as she found she was hungry at this time and the evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at 8pm. She found this new habit difficult to break and soon invited other ladies in society to join her.

This pause for tea quickly became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s， upper class and society women would change into long gowns， gloves and hats for their afternoon tea.

What an afternoon tea includes

Traditional afternoon tea， which is typically served between 4pm and 6pm， is technically a small meal， not a drink. It consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches （thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off are a classic）， freshly baked scones served with cream and fruit jam， cakes and pastries. Of course， tea or coffee， served with milk and sugar， is also provided.

Nowadays， you can enjoy a traditional yet fancy afternoon tea with pot-brewed tea and delicate snacks in many restaurants and hotels. But in the average home， afternoon tea is likely to be much simpler ―biscuits with a mug of tea， usually produced using a teabag.

Etiquette of afternoon tea

As with everything， a particular etiquette is associated with afternoon tea. Here are a few tips for ensuring your tea taking standards are faultless.

1. By definition， afternoon tea is a dainty meal. So， when you drink your tea， take small sips rather than “glugging” it down. Theres a definite order to take tea， but the actual drinking of tea can take place throughout the “meal”.

2. Similarly， the food served should be consumed in a restrained fashion as well. Sandwiches are eaten first， followed by the sweet snacks， such as cakes， pastries and scones.

3. Scones are always broken， never cut. They should be served with jam and clotted cream， or butter. The jam goes on first， followed by the cream or butter.

4. Crumpets are buttered whole and then cut before eating.

5. Cakes and pastries should be made so that the use of a pastry fork is not needed， although if thats not the case， the use of such an implement is perfectly acceptable.

6. If you take milk with your tea， pour the tea first and then add milk.

温暖的天气最适合进行户外活动了。但对那些非运动型的人来说，还有什么能比在学习之余，约上三五好友一起畅享轻松下午茶来得更惬意呢？

但你了解下午茶文化吗？包括它的起源、内容以及礼仪？为了让你更尽兴地享受这一英式传统，我们为你盘点了一些喝下午茶的必备知识。

起源

在中国，饮茶的传统可以追溯到公元前3000年，而直到十七世纪中叶，英国才首次有了“下午茶”的概念。

1840年，第七世贝德福德公爵夫人安娜·玛利亚·罗素每天都会吩咐仆人在下午四点备好一个盛有黄油、面包以及蛋糕的茶盘，因为她发现自己每天下午四点都会饿，而当时流行的晚餐时间是晚上八点。很快她发现这个新习惯令人欲罢不能，便邀请圈子里的另一些女士来加入其中。

这种茶歇很快便成了当时的社会潮流。到了19世纪80年代，上流社会的女性则会为了享用一顿下午茶而专门换上长礼服、手套以及帽子。

下午茶的内容

传统的下午茶一般会于下午四点至六点间供应。确切来说，这是一顿简餐，并非仅仅喝茶而已。餐点包括精致的三明治（去边面包制成的薄片黄瓜三明治则是经典之选）、新鲜出炉的英式松饼配上奶油和果酱，还有蛋糕和其它甜点。当然少不了搭配奶和糖的咖啡或茶。……