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Tea time varies across the world, with the UK typically serving afternoon tea at 4pm, while Americans may have a mid-afternoon snack, and Germany has an afternoon coffee and cake break. Tea time can also refer to morning breaks or simply snack time throughout the day.
The actual time of tea time varies significantly depending on your location in the world. We often think of tea, especially with a light or heavy snack, as uniquely British. Yet there are many countries that practice some form of tea, even if times may be informal or not consistently observed
In the UK, teatime typically refers to the time afternoon tea is served. This time is usually given at 4:00, but individuals may be earlier or later depending on work schedules and breaks. Not everyone takes tea every day, and it can be simply an afternoon snack or it can be an elaborate feast depending on the occasion. Some people look to a slightly later tea called meat tea, which is usually heavier and is similar to the American dinner.
While tea time in the UK may be the generic name for this afternoon snack or meal, Americans, especially those with children, may think of this mid-afternoon time as tea time. It is at this time of day that children return from school and are usually hungry for a snack to keep them going until their evening meal. Afternoon daycare and after-school programs may offer a snack for children at this time of day, and adults may find themselves quite willing to participate because it can be several hours before dinner/dinner.
Interestingly, Germany has an afternoon coffee or café which tends to correspond to American snacks and tea time in the UK. Typical snacks include coffee and cake, and snacks are often sweet rather than savory. Other countries that like snacks and can have some sort of casual tea include Mexico and several countries in South America and Hong Kong. Hong Kong tea time takes place between 2am and 6pm.
Occasionally, tea time refers to morning breaks or coffee breaks that occur around 10am. This reference may be used in the UK, Canada and the US. In the UK, tea is normally consumed in the late afternoon, although in New Zealand the term ‘tea’ can refer to the light meal eaten around 5am. The term can also simply be used to not refer to a set time, just to indicate that it is snack time at any time of the day. Americans may instead refer to this as coffee time or call their morning break a coffee break.
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