★British food★

First of all, I am keen on British Afternoon Tea this habit. Probably because I like to eat small snacks and cakes.And having an Afternoon Tea with friends always gives me a feeling of happiness or ease :)

The origins of the well known British tradition of afternoon tea is make me find it interesting.

People always think that the originator of afternoon tea was the 7th Duchess of Bedford Anna.

In the early 1840's, traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00 in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry. Especially in the summer when dinner was served even later.

She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, as she had feared, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea".

Nowadays afternoon tea became more and more popular in the world. And to take tea in the middle of the afternoon became more and more elaborate with the use of elegant tea ware, lace and embroidered table linen, bone china tea services, cake stands, tea canisters and blending bowls. The ladies would dress for the occasion in long tea gowns and preside over the ornate silver teapots while making general conversation with their guests.

To compare with China, the British traditional of afternoon tea is similar to Chinese Yum Cha. It is a dining experience which involves drinking Chinese tea and eating dim sum dishes. Yum cha is Cantonese which literally means "drink tea". There also so many snacks while people Yum Cha. And they call the snacks ‘Dim Sum’. Dim Sum usually consists of a variety of dumplings, steamed dishes and other goodies. And today, Dim Sum is served throughout China.Such as jiaozi in Beijing, pearl balls in Shanghai and spicy wontons in Sichuan province. But I think that the best Dim Sum in China is found in Canton, with its wide assortment of sweet and savory dishes ranging from meatballs to sweet cakes.

Lastly, I fund some informations about British pubs.
The most common pub names in Britain are:

The Crown – this is representative of the King or Queen.
The Red Lion – this pub name became popular when James I ordered red lions to be displayed outside all public places.
Royal Oak – this only became popular after Charles II escaped during the English Civil War by hiding behind an Oak tree.
Swan – a symbol used commonly in the coat of arms. All swans [the birds] are owned by the Queen and protected by law.
White Hart – this was the heraldic symbol of King Richard II.
Duke of Buckingham – named after the Duke who was murdered in Old Portsmouth in 1628.