Everything Stops for Tea Trivia Quiz

Answer: Evening meal

This is a rather sensitive topic, as the way people call meals in the UK is not only an indicator of geographical origin, but also of social class. In the early 20th century, while the upper classes had afternoon tea (accompanied by sandwiches and pastries) at 4 p.m., at that time the working classes came home from work, and needed a more substantial meal. By association, this meal also came to be called "tea". Especially in northern England and Scotland, tea tends to be eaten early in the evening (generally between 5 and 7), while dinner is generally eaten later.

Answer: Merienda

"Merienda" is an important tradition in Spanish-speaking countries, and similar light meals are enjoyed in European countries such as Italy (where it is called "merenda") Portugal ("lanche") and France ("goûter"). Such a meal, usually including baked goods, fruit and hot or cold beverages, is supposed to fill the gap between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner.

The other three choices are all Spanish words: "mariposa" means "butterfly"; "maracas" are hand-shaken percussion instruments; "margarita" (meaning "daisy") is also a woman's name and the name of a popular, tequila-based cocktail.

Answer: A person who makes and/or sells tea

The word "wallah" in Hindi means someone who makes or sells something. Therefore, a "chai wallah" (also spelled "chaiwala") is a person who brews tea, and sells it in public places such as markets, railway stations and offices. Indian chai is rather different from the beverage we drink in the West (often made from a concentrate or powder), and is always brewed fresh with black tea leaves and a mixture of spices that always reflects the personal preference of the "chai wallah".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a "chai wallah" in his youth, helping his father to serve tea to customers outside the railway station in their home town of Vadnagar (Gujarat).

Answer: Sweden

The word "fika" is an example of 19th-century back slang, in which the syllables of the word "kaffi" (an earlier version of "kaffe") are reversed. "Fika" has become an essential part of modern Swedish society, to be shared with colleagues at work as well as with friends and family. Similar customs exist in other northern European countries, where official meetings, as well as informal get-togethers, are always accompanied by coffee, tea and baked goods.

Answer: Guangdong (Canton)

"Yum cha" means "drink tea" in Cantonese, and the term refers to the morning tea as traditionally served in the tea houses of Guangzhou. In Hong Kong, however, it is also served in the afternoon because of the British influence. Indeed, like English-style afternoon tea, "yum cha" focuses on the food as much as the beverage. Typically, "yum cha" foods tend to be steamed, as people prefer to avoid deep-fried foods in the morning. Like Western-style brunch (to which it is often compared), "yum cha" is an occasion for families or friends to get together.

Answer: Wisconsin

The coffee break originated in Stoughton, Wisconsin (about 15 miles south of Madison, the state capital) in the late 19th century. Many Norwegian immigrants settled in Stoughton between 1865 and the early 1900s, finding work at the local wagon factory.

Their wives agreed to work in the tobacco warehouses, which were left short-staffed, as long as they were allowed to have a break in the morning and one in the afternoon to go home, tend to their chores, and also drink a cup of coffee. The city, which keeps strong ties to its Norwegian heritage, celebrates this event every summer with the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival.

Answer: Builders

"Builders' tea" (also known as workman's tea) is a uniquely British institution. It is strong and dark in colour (as it is brewed for longer than usual), and served in a mug with plenty of sugar and milk. Its name comes from the tea traditionally drunk by construction workers during their breaks.

Answer: Australia and New Zealand

As the name implies, "smoko" (also spelled "smoke-o" or "smoke-oh") was originally meant as a short cigarette break taken during work. In modern times, with smoking being frowned upon in most public places, the term has become synonymous with taking a break from work, often accompanied by tea, coffee, or even a light meal (as in the case of Australian sheep-shearers).

Answer: apéritif

Before-dinner apéritif is very popular in countries such as France (where it is often shortened in apéro), Italy (aperitivo) and Spain (tapas). The name comes from the Latin "aperire" , meaning "to open". While some sort of finger food is always included in a typical apéritif, it is generally not as substantial as in the American-style "happy hour" - which has also become widespread in many large European cities. It is common for people to meet for an apéritif after work, and apéritifs are often served at social events, such as the opening of an art exhibition.

The other three words are completely unrelated to the topic of this quiz, though they share the first two letters with "apéritif".

Answer: Ethiopia

Though the circumstances in which the "Coffea arabica" plant was first domesticated are still obscure and shrouded in legend, the plant in question came to Egypt and Yemen - and later to the rest of the world - from the highlands of Ethiopia. In most of Ethiopia, the coffee ceremony is performed three times a day (morning, noon and evening), and is mandatory in the presence of a guest. It is an event to be savoured without hurry, as it can take a few hours - starting from the roasting of the beans on a charcoal stove - and is often accompanied by the burning of incense. It is considered rude for a guest to leave before having consumed at least three cups of coffee, as the third round bestows a blessing ("baraka").

Though all the other countries are associated with coffee, none of them are landlocked. Ethiopia lost its coastline on the Red Sea when Eritrea became independent in 1993.