This GQ thread got me to thinking.
My life is too much in disarray to have tea (the afternoon nosh, not the drink). I eat when I feel like it, or when I remember to. But for those of you who do, what do you have for tea?
Tea, and something else… lox on wasa, cheese on wasa, or a sweet bread. I especially like “Irish Breakfast Bread” from a local market–soda bread with raisins, and a thick sprinkling of turbinado sugar on top.
Having tea right now. Earl Gray with blueberry pie. I have a cup or two every evening but usually with those Rolled Gold wheat pretzel sticks.
Earl Grey. Hot. In a clear mug with a black wire handle.
I also enjoy a nice Irish breakfast tea every now and again. Or an orange pekoe.
That’s all hot, btw. For iced tea, I brew leaves bought at Java Daves and pour over about 70 ice cubes in a large pitcher. I rarely use bags for brewing iced tea. When making sweet tea, I put the sugar in before before pouring over the ice. Makes a big difference. (I alternate between sweet and unsweet and always make one of each for guests.)
I’ve never thought of it as tea, but on weekdays I do usually go for something around 3 or 4pm. Huh. 
Typically, a Diet Pepsi and a cookie (I’d have purchased the latter with my lunch). If there were scones, I’d definitely have one or two of them instead!
Scones or cookies or a biscuit. Something just to nosh on and tide me over until supper.
Scones or hummingbird cake. Or lemon meringue pie. Decisions, decisions.
By ‘tea’ do you mean lunch?
I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lunch is a sandwich/roll and a scone with a cup of tea.
In my family, ‘tea’ was the word for the main evening meal. Anybody else do this?
In some parts of the UK this is the case, with the midday meal called dinner. You should also differentiate between tea and high-tea. The latter is a more substantial meal. You can read all about the various “teas” here
My standard tea eatables are hard-boiled egg and tomato sandwiches on Pepperidge Faaarm extraordinarily thin-sliced bread, supplemented by tomato and swiss cheese sandwiches for a savory contrast, cut into little triangles and consumed by the plateful; I may have these 3-4 times a week with afternoon tea. If I get tired of those, I’ll switch to crab salad or salmon sandwiches on special occasions, with strawberries and some sort of chocolately cake/cookies on the side. I also occasionally make scones to be served with jam (strawberry or blueberry) and Devon cream.
Since I usually get home from work around 4pm, I have tea, but as an adult it seems to be a cold-weather custom with me. My mom, grandmother and great aunts all did afternoon tea too, so I guess that’s why I came to like it. (We’re American but we did it anyhow.)
I like to brew a pot of Twining’s English Breakfast or maybe Earl Grey if I’m in the mood for that “perfumy” taste it has. I use loose leaf tea from the tin and do it the “old fashioned” way. I like cream or Half and Half and Splenda in it. Food is stuff like cheese and crackers, chicken salad, a handful of nuts and maybe a couple of slices of low-carb white bread with margarine and cinnamon-Splenda on top. During the holidays I treat myself to a slice of decent fruitcake and/or sugar cookies.
Two tea issues I’ve yet to resolve: what to do with all of the tea tins (eventually I got to throwing them out because there are only so many things you can store in them); and getting a real tea cozy (we always used a thickish tea towel wrapped around the pot). This year for Christmas I’ve asked my boyfriend to finally get me a tea cozy… heh, I wonder if Vera Bradley makes them? :eek:
Sounds snacky. Especially Miss Mapp’s sandwiches. Too bad I’m so lazy, forgetful, and schedule-challenged.
But I’m thinking of it now, and it’s mid-afternoon. And I picked up some smoked salmon at the store today. (Note to self: Get down to Westport for some good smoked salmon!) OTOH, I have plenty of cheese and Vegemite.
Whoops. No white bread. Salmon and Ritz Crackers it is.
I had a co-worker who insisted on closing shop at 3:00 and having tea. It’s now a habit, although I do it at my desk. Usually I’ll have a cookie and a cup of Lapsang Souchong (mmm, smoke & chocolate). I think the cookie is going to change to cottage cheese or a bit of ham once the bariatric surgery is over.
Now that I get to it, I’m not actually hungry. Oh, well.
I got to have a scone today! And I have two more for after dinner tonight! Life is good! 
You need a tea warmer. Keeps a pot at just the right temperature for a good while.
For me, tea is when I get home from work and can vary considerably. There are usually some digestive biscuits though. Or Hobnobs. I love those things.
Thanks for the info! That looks great. I bookmarked the page and will ask the boyfriend. Good price, too. Neat idea! Now to look up Hobnobs…
Usually just coffee and a few of those yummy, imported from Italy, puffed pastry sticks.