If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok recently, you may have heard the chime of an unexpected but quintessentially British phenomenon, the ‘tea time alarm’. For those unaware, the 'tea time alarm' is an alarm that supposedly goes off nationwide at 4pm everyday. Even the official social media channels of the UK Government have now posted about the alarm, so it’s definitely time to find out more…
What exactly is the tea time alarm?
A number of videos are being shared on TikTok explaining the British Tea Time alarm, what it is and when it goes off. The supposed tea time alarm is meant to be a nationwide daily ritual where the whole of the UK sits down to drink tea together at the same time, at around 3pm.
But although it sounds just like the kind of tradition we genuinely would have here in the UK, the British Tea Time alarm is actually nothing more than a prank. Whilst it’s still not clear how the rumour started, it somehow ended up finding its way to Americans, who began to sincerely ask on social media if the tea time alarm is real. In typical British humour, every Brit said yes, creating a lot of confusion.
Brits began making TikToks of the tea time alarm 'going off' or sharing stories of when they forgot to drink tea and the repercussions that followed. Some TikTok users have shown viewers what the alarm tower looks like, whilst others explained the penalties for not drinking tea when the alarm goes off and how much they’ve been fined for not complying.
Now, even the UK Government has got involved, posting on the official Government TikTok account. The video simply shows someone pouring a cup of tea, with the text overlay reading: "Make sure you check gov.uk for updates." The video has over 2.4 million views, and over 319,000 likes, along with thousands of comments.
"To any Americans this is the UK government's TikTok page you can stop asking if it's real now," wrote one user. Another wrote: "I hope this is enough proof that it's real, the official government acc is posing about it." However, although the tea time alarm sounds like a genuine British tradition, it’s just not a real thing (unfortunately).
Why you should be setting your alarm clock
Still, let’s be honest: 3:00pm is actually a rather genius time for a cuppa. It’s that mid-afternoon slump where lunch is a distant memory and dinner is still too far away. Your energy levels are flagging, your inbox is starting to look blurry, and you’re definitely in need of a biscuit. Enter the restorative powers of a perfectly brewed tea.
At Jones Clocks, we love British traditions, we love tea, and we love alarm clocks, so with this in mind, the tea time alarm might just become a reality for us! So, with this in mind…
Here’s how to make the most of your tea time alarm
If you’re fully committing to the tea time lifestyle (as you should), you’ll need the right setup:
A proper alarm clock
Sure, you could rely on your phone, but where’s the charm in that? A Jones alarm clock is the perfect way to keep track of time in style. Plus, there’s something far more satisfying about glancing at a beautifully designed clock, or hearing the bright, clear ring of an alarm clock, rather than being rudely interrupted by a blaring phone alarm.
The perfect brew
Whether you’re a classic English Breakfast devotee or prefer a herbal option, make sure your tea-making supplies are ready to go.
A biscuit (or three)
No explanation needed.
Join the tea time alarm movement
So, will you be setting your tea time alarm clock? Whether you think it’s a stroke of national brilliance or just another whimsical internet trend, there’s no denying that a daily tea break is something we can all get behind. And if you need a stylish way to keep track of time, well, you know where to find us.
Tally ho, and don’t forget to set your tea time alarm clock!
