The tradition of drinking tea in England began to take shape in the 17th century, when tea became available in Europe from East Asia, primarily from China. The first records of tea drinking in England date back to 1657, when tea was introduced to London.
By the early 18th century, tea had become popular among the upper classes and was served as part of social events. For the first time in 1840, Anne, Duchess of Bedford proposed holding "tea parties" to satisfy hunger between lunch and dinner. This created the tradition of "high tea", which included not only tea, but also sandwiches, pastries and sweets.
Over time, drinking tea became part of the daily life of the British. Various tea rituals and cups have appeared, dating back to our modern times. Thus, drinking tea became not only a practical matter, but also a social event, ingrained in the culture of England.