Afternoon tea at the Ritz

BBC Learning EnglishLondon LifeAfternoon tea at the RitzAnna: Hello, I'm Anna Jones and this is London Life. Andin today’s programmewe’re looking at a very English custom. What do you thinkthis woman is describing?
　　I think the whole art of tea-taking is a very elegant 1 and avery English thing to do. This whole ambience of tea-takingmakes you be elegant.
　　Anna: Well that was Gerrie Pitt who is the director ofpress and public relations at the Ritz hotel in centralLondon. And she’s describing the very English custom ofhaving tea or “tea –taking.” The Ritz hotel is one ofthe most famous hotelsin London and this year is celebrating its centenary – itopened 100 years agoin 1906 –its centenary. The Ritz is especially well knownfor its wonderful teas but taking tea at the Ritz is not aneveryday event – it’s usually reserved for a specialoccasion like a birthday or anniversary. Tea is served inthe beautiful surroundings of the Palm Court – displays offlowers and palms add to the experience of “tea-taking.”.
　　Gerrie says that the “whole ambience” of teataking – the whole character or quality of the Ritz –makes you feel “elegant - it makes you feel attractive andyou behave in a very graceful 2 way.
　　And it’s not just a cup of tea either – it’s almost likehaving a 3 course meal. Listen to Gerrie as she describesthe food served with a pot of tea. What do you eat with teaat the Ritz?
　　The actual food items on the tea menu come on a three-tiered cake stand. The bottom being the finger sandwiches– very traditional – and the waiter will explain what thefillings are. Then we do our scones 3 in the middle and we doour cakes and pastries 4 on the top. It’s donealmost like courses.
　　Anna: Well we hear that the food arrives on a “three-tiered cake stand.- there are threelevels, one on top of each other and  on eachlevel there’s a plate for holding the food. And what foodis there? Gerrie tells us that there are fingersandwiches – these are small sandwiches filled with avariety of different things. She describes this kind ofsandwich as “very traditional” – if something isdescribed as traditional then it has been going on in thesame way for a very long time – so finger sandwiches havebeen a part of the traditional English afternoon tea for along time.  In the middle of the tier there arescones which are small round cakes which are often eatenwith jam and cream which is known as a cream tea. Andfinally, at the top of the tier there are various cakes andsweet pastries. Gerrie says that tea is its almost donelike“courses” - a part of a meal which is served separatelyfrom the other parts of it.
　　Anna: Now what about making the tea? How do you make aproper cup of English tea? What does Gerrie say is the mostimportant thing about making a cup of tea? Have a listen.
　　The crucial things about tea-making and tea-taking is thatthe water should always beabsolutely piping hot and it has to be on the boil andboiling and then you let the leaves stew 5. And we don’t putmilk in first simply because we feel that it’s up to theguest to decide how strong or weak they would like theirtea.
　　Anna: According to Gerrie the most “crucial” thingabout tea making – the most important thing - is to makesure that the water is “piping” hot – it is very hot andhas just boiled. Then after pouring the water onto the tealeaves you let the leaves “stew” or absorb the water tomake the tea. If you hear someone talking about “stewedtea” they are describing tea that has been left too longin the tea pot before being poured and tastes strong andbitter. What about the milk – what is the tea makingetiquette – what are the rules or socially accepted wayof adding the milk? Does it go in to the cup before the teais poured or afterwards? Listen again. Well at the Ritz theetiquette – or the accepted way – is to add the milkafterwards so that the guest can decide how strong or weakthey would like their tea. Well as we mentionedearlier the Ritz is a very famous London hotel – so famousin fact that its name now appears in thedictionary as an adjective. What do you think it means?
　　Here’s Gerrie.
　　Even the name The Ritz has become generic 6 in thedictionary. People talk about things being“ritzy” and even if something is not very ritzy orsomething is very ritzy and that all comes from the name.
　　Anna: If something is described as “ritzy” it isexpensive and fashionable – for example you might describesomeone’s dress or car as ritzy. Well its 4 o clock now soit must be time for a cup of tea.