In the 18th century, coffeehouses were very popular. They were not allowed to be entered by women, however. Charles II was convinced in 1675 by members of the government to shut them down as sedition centres. The men were so indignant that the King cancelled the proclamation. Coffeehouses, which were known as “penny universities” because of the lively conversation and admission fee of a penny, also attracted the attention of the king.
Tea Gardens
In the 18th century tea gardens were very popular. The idea behind the tea garden was to allow ladies and gentlemen alike to enjoy their tea outdoors, surrounded by performers. The gardens attracted everyone, including Handel and Mozart. Tea gardens were a popular place for tea drinking, and they also provided a safe space where men and women could meet.
The idea of afternoon tea was first popularised by Catharine de Braganza in the 1830s. Jane Austen hinted at afternoon tea in 1804 with an unfinished novel. For your own taste of Afternoon tea boxes, visit a site like https://www.afternoonteabox.com/
Afternoon tea tradition
Anna, the Duchess of Bedford is credited with establishing the tradition of afternoon tea back in the 19th century. She asked for light sandwiches to be delivered in the late afternoon as she felt “sunken” at that time due to the long interval between meals. She invited others to join in and so began the tradition.
