Der Große Jane Austen Ball • Teatime

T E A T I M E
"It's time for tea, Madame"
UNFORTUNATELY ALREADY FULLY BOOKED!
21st June 2025 . Eichstätt

In the midst of the 17th century,
England embarked upon the importation of tea,
initially sourced from China. At that time,
it bore such an exorbitant cost
that it remained within the means of only the upper echelons,
thereby assuming the mantle of a status symbol.
Queen Anne (1665-1714) furthered the allure of tea-drinking,
forsaking the customary warm ale in favor of tea during breakfast.

By the year 1700, tea found its place
in approximately 500 coffeehouses throughout England.
Post-1750 witnessed the inauguration of the inaugural tea gardens,
idyllic spaces where tea was savored al fresco.
While coffeehouses were off-limits to the fairer sex,
the tea gardens extended a welcoming embrace to them.
It was amidst these charming gardens that orchestras
frequently struck up tunes for dances,
marking the inception of the tea dance.

Only when the burdensome tea duties were alleviated
in 1783 did the middle class, erstwhile patrons of coffee,
find themselves able to indulge in the luxury of tea.
Subsequently, the working-class families
also embraced this newfound delight.
The East India Company held sway over the trade monopoly,
rendering 18th-century Britain the epicenter of European tea commerce.
To counter the perpetual drain on foreign reserves caused
by tea imports, Britain, in the 19th century,
turned to cultivating tea in its colonies,
where it flourished splendidly.

The tea culture of yesteryears has been met
with such resounding success that I have resolved
to revive it for the year 2025. Once again,
we shall pay homage to the English tea tradition.
To this end, I have curated a diverse tea tasting
experience for you.

T E A T I M E
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W H I T E T E A