The Tea Party

To the West tea was introduced by Portuguese priests and merchants during the 16th century. During the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among Britons, who started large-scale production and commercialization of the plant in India to bypass a Chinese monopoly at that time.

• “But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.” (Jane Austen, Mansfield Park)
• “Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!” (Agatha Christie)
• “While there is tea, there is hope.” (Arthur Wing Pinero)

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party

This afternoon at three.

‘Twas very small-

Three guest in all-

Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,

While I drank up the tea;

‘Twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me.

(Jessica Nelson North)

Gallery images:

• “A Convalescent” by James Tissot, 1876
• “John, Lord Willoughby de Broke, and his Family” by Johann Zoffany c. 1766
• “An English Family at Tea” by Joseph Van Aken, 1720
• “A Tea Party” by Joseph Van Aken, 1719-1721
• “Five O’Clock Tea” by Julius LeBlanc Stewart
• “Holyday” by James Tissot, 1876
• “A Lady and Two Gentlemen seated at a tea table” by Philip Reinagle (1749-1833)
• “The Tea Party” by Frederic Soulacroix
• “Tea” by Mary Stevenson Cassatt, 1880
• “An English Family at Tea” by Joseph Van Aken, 1725
• “A Family of Three at Tea” by Richard Collins
• “Ladies Having Tea” c 1740 Unknown British artist