Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September at the age of 96, also attracted attention for her lifestyle. It is said that in busy days, you cannot miss the time for a cup of tea, which is a symbol of British culture. I heard that there is a course in Nishi-Nippori, Tokyo, which not only teaches the types, characteristics, and brewing methods of tea, but also explains the charm of black tea from many aspects, taking into account the charm of black tea. The historical background at that time, so I decided to visit it.

Around this time (mid-20th century), dishwasher-safe teacups began to appear. This is something that an average household can easily use. ” A class at the Tea Class “Cha Cha” in late September. We learned about the history of this Italian ceramic manufacturer from its founding in the early 18th century to the present day.

The room is filled with antique cups, saucers and other items that class representative Midori Tachikawa (46) collected during his overseas travels. The chandelier also hangs down, giving it the feel of a European aristocratic residence.

The three-story house that doubled as his home was also built with special care, using bricks and other building materials imported from England. There is a shop next door that sells tea and scones, which go well with it.

I received “Darjeeling” and “Assam” as the difference is easy to tell. The former is a tea grown in the region of the same name in northeastern India. The color of the tea is light reddish amber. The latter also comes from India and is characterized by its dark reddish-brown color and mellow taste, suitable for making milk tea.

This time I drank it directly and the difference was obvious. Darjeeling has a musky aroma and taste, while Assam has a rich, earthy aroma. When I told Mr. Tachikawa, he smiled in agreement and said, “That’s right.” That reassured me.

Mr. Tachikawa accidentally attended a tea class on the recommendation of an acquaintance and was so attracted by it that he started a tea class himself. Although the location has changed, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the course.

It is important to us that you experience “then”. Many valuable cutlery items are also frequently used during the course. The reporter used a cup produced by the British Coalport company about 190 years ago. The design on the outside of the cup is very subtle. When the cup is placed to the lips, viewed from the side, it does not conflict with the patterns on the noble clothing.

Listening to the explanation, I could vaguely imagine the scene at that time and deeply feel the taste of it.

Queen Elizabeth is said to prefer Earl Gray tea. This is not the name of the type, but a type of “flavored tea,” which is tea flavored with citrus fruits. It originated from the preference of Earl Grey, who served as British Prime Minister in the 19th century.

In Britain, tea has been part of everyday life since ancient times. The Japan Tea Association (Minato-ku) estimates that consumption per person per year is about 1.5 kilograms, which is calculated by dividing imports by the total population. The dosage is equivalent to about 500 cups of black tea, which is about 10 times the amount used in Japan (about 140 grams).

In Japan, a lot of food is consumed in plastic bottles. Mr. Tachikawa said, “Just pour boiling water over the tea leaves or tea bags, steep them for a few minutes, and enjoy the tea leaves or tea bags. I hope people can feel free to incorporate them into relaxing time with family and friends, or to refresh themselves .” (Nakamura Shoki)