Tea Blog

One of the many things I’ve discovered over the years of writing about tea is that the British tend to have strong opinions on the subject.

In 1946, just three years before publishing 1984, George Orwell set out his views in the essay A Nice Cup of Tea, which remains widely quoted today. I discussed that piece in more detail in <a href="http://englishtea.us/2009/11/16/george-orwell’s-nice-cup-of&quot; targets tea-making principles.

While defining exactly what makes someone “British” can be complicated, author Alexander McCall Smith likely qualifies. Born in what was then a British colony in Africa and now residing in Scotland, Smith is best known for his novels set in Africa. However, tea enthusiasts may be more interested in his essay Confessions of a Tea Addict, in which he shares his own well-developed views on tea.

The essay leaves little doubt about his perspective, beginning with the line, “Tea has always been there in my life.” Smith recalls drinking strong African black tea as a child, often mixed with generous amounts of sugar and condensed milk—resulting in a beverage that today might be considered heavily sweetened rather than traditional.

This is one point where Smith’s early habits might have drawn criticism from Orwell, who expressed firm opinions about sugar in tea. Orwell argued that adding sugar diminishes the flavor, even questioning whether habitual sweetening was compatible with truly appreciating tea.

In time, Smith abandoned sugar in his tea, though not without difficulty. He describes a transition period during which unsweetened tea initially tasted bitter before becoming more enjoyable as his palate adjusted.

Beyond sugar, Smith’s essay explores his experiences with coffee, his preference for loose leaf tea over tea bags, and the tea-making equipment he travels with. The result is a thoughtful reflection on how personal habits shape one’s experience of tea.

To read the full essay and explore Smith’s perspective in detail, see this Guardian article on Alexander McCall Smith’s relationship with tea.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea articles by the author.

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