English tea goes down wonderfully with Chinese

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is an Italian proverb attributed to St. Ambrose. In simple terms it means when visiting a country, behave like the locals and adopt their customs.

This often happens by osmosis, particularly if it involves a social activity that is part of a country's genetic DNA, enjoyed by all generations and affordable - such as drinking tea.

Growing up in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, Wang Xiaojun's routine used to involve drinking a rust-colored green tea harvested from Laoshan Mountains with her grandparents. The tea was taken in small cups to prevent oxidation, and made with water that had been boiled and then cooled to 85 C.

However, 19 years after arriving in Britain to study for a master's degree in international business at London Metropolitan University, she has adopted a English name, Sharon, and developed a taste for local brands.

The Chinese are increasingly becoming attracted to English tea. According to UK customs data, in the first five months of this year, British tea exports to Hong Kong were almost triple the value from two years ago, while exports to the Chinese mainland had doubled in value.

Wang attributes the increased Chinese consumption of English tea to the fact it is associated with being "quintessentially British, which is what many Chinese love and aspire to".

She says it's also about food security, as a series of scandals in China has raised concerns over the quality and authenticity of domestic products.

Wang likes established English tea brands, including PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea, as well as Twinings, which is more upmarket and now sold globally.

Her tea-with-milk experience began on the flight to Britain from China: "I saw the tiny plastic carton of milk served with my in-flight meal. I poured it into my cup and drank it, not realizing it was to put into tea."

Her education continued in Putney, London, when she lived with an English family as a student and drank tea with milk served in a mug.

On special occasions, she reverts to drinking from China cups, particularly when served afternoon tea at the world-renowned Fera restaurant at Claridges in London.

Afternoon tea has become popular in China through the efforts of British trade delegations, and more recently through China's love for the TV series Downton Abbey.

In June, the British consulate general in Shanghai celebrated Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday by hosting an event to break the Guinness World Record for the largest-ever cream tea party.

Wang now lives in Rochester, Kent, and works for Japanese commodity trading company Mitsui in London.

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/30/2016 page26)