WHAT IS AFTERNOON TEA?
Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. It evolved as a mini meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal at 8pm.
Afternoon Tea is a meal composed of sandwiches (usually cut delicately into 'fingers'), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. Interestingly, scones were not a common feature of early Afternoon Tea and were only introduced in the twentieth century.
Afternoon Tea was initially developed as a private social event for ladies who climbed the echelons of society. It was only when Queen Victoria engaged in the Afternoon Tea ritual that it became a formal occasion on a larger scale, known as 'tea receptions'.
These receptions could have as many as two hundred guests with an open 'at home' invitation to visit between 4pm and 7pm, during which they could come and go as they pleased; this was the genesis of the Afternoon Tea as we know it.
In Britain today Afternoon Tea is usually enjoyed as an occasional indulgence or to celebrate a special event, such as a birthday, a pre-wedding party, or baby shower with a group of friends.
HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA
Tea consumption increased dramatically during the early nineteenth century and it is around this time that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is said to have complained of "having that sinking feeling" during the late afternoon.
At the time it was usual for people to take only two main meals a day, breakfast, and dinner at around 8 o'clock in the evening. The solution for the Duchess was a pot a tea and a light snack, taken privately in her boudoir during the afternoon.
Later friends were invited to join her in her rooms at Woburn Abbey and this summer practice proved so popular that the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for "tea and a walking the fields." Other social hostesses quickly picked up on the idea and the practice became respectable enough to move it into the drawing room. Before long all of fashionable society was sipping tea and nibbling sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.
Occasionally you will see hotels serving a 'high tea'. Traditionally, the upper classes would serve a 'low' or 'afternoon' tea around four o'clock, just before the fashionable promenade in Hyde Park. The middle and lower classes would have a more substantial 'high' tea later in the day, at five or six o'clock, in place of a late dinner. The names derive from the height of the tables on which the meals are served, high tea being served at the dinner table.
Many visitors from overseas still imagine that we are a nation where, in the words of the well-known song, 'at half past three, everything stops for tea'. Sadly these days Afternoon Tea is usually only an occasional luxury for the British; a birthday treat in a country house hotel, or a welcome break from a hectic days shopping 'in town'. Luckily visitors are still able to indulge in a little bit of British tradition for themselves.
AFTERNOON TEA MENU
There are no set rules about the content of a traditional Afternoon Tea menu, but it usually consists of sandwiches and a variety of sweet items.
A typical menu might read:
Traditional Afternoon Tea Menu
A selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches
Warm scones with clotted cream and preserves
A variety of home made cakes and pastries
Your choice from a range of teas
What types of sandwiches are served with Afternoon Tea?
The classic selection of sandwiches served with Afternoon Tea includes:
Cucumber, Egg mayonnaise with cress, Smoked salmon with cream cheese, Coronation chicken, Ham and mustard.
What is a Cream Tea?
A 'Cream Tea' is generally scones, clotted cream and preserve served with a pot of tea.
What is Champagne Afternoon Tea?
Many hotels also offer set menus that include a glass of Champagne with the Traditional Afternoon Tea, or the option to add a glass of Champagne for an additional charge.
What types of tea are served?
The range of teas on offer can vary from half a dozen to over a hundred, including some very rare and obscure ones. Some of the common teas on offer will include the following:
Assam
A strong full-bodied tea from India, which has a distinctive, 'malty' flavour.
Darjeeling
An aromatic and astringent tea from India, with a hint of almonds and wildflowers.
Earl Grey
A blend of black teas scented with oil of bergamot named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834.
Lapsang Souchong
A Chinese tea fired over smoking pine needles, which produces a striking smoky odour and flavour.
WHAT IS HIGH TEA?
The drinking of tea not only became a social event for the upper classes, it altered the time and manner in which they took tea. Afternoon Tea became the bridge between meals because many wouldn't eat their evening meal until maybe 8pm. As such, Afternoon Tea became a 'mini meal' in itself.
This was all well and good for the upper classes, but the working classes ran to a different schedule and a different budget. Tea was still quite expensive at the time and the working classes could not afford to waste it on anything other than necessities. A wearied factory worker wouldn't arrive home until six in the evening, and when he did, he was famished! Thus, in the industrial areas of the UK (northern England and southern Scotland), the working classes evening meal evolved: high tea.
English High Tea usually involved a mug of tea, bread, vegetables, cheese and occasionally meat. Variations on high tea could include the addition of pies, potatoes and crackers.
So while Afternoon Tea was largely a social event for their upper class counterparts, high tea was a necessary meal in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This traditional high tea still exists for some parts of the North and Scotland.
Why is it called 'high tea'?
A possible explanation why this type of meal was called high tea is the fact that it was eaten at a table. In comparison, Afternoon Tea was taken whilst seating in low, comfortable chairs or sofas. Of course, soon after, the upper classes developed their own variation and also called it 'high tea'. It was a meal that could be eaten when their servants were away or not available, as it was so easy to prepare. The upper class 'high tea' involved the amalgamation of Afternoon Tea and high tea, with the addition of pigeon, veal, salmon and fruit.
It is important to add that the Afternoon Tea menu served in the UK today is often refered to as high tea in many other parts of the world. Because of this some hotels, such as The Ritz in London, use the term 'High tea in London' to advertise their Afternoon Tea because a large proportion of their customers are from overseas.
Some venues do serve a special high tea menu, in addition to Afternoon Tea, which includes additional savoury items such as Welsh Rarebit, English muffins, pies or omelette.
WHAT IS TEA?
Tea is a drink that is produced from the combination of cured leaves of the Camellia Sinensis (tea) plant with hot water. Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. The Camellia Sinensis plant thrives growing in tropical and sub-tropical climates, hence its origins on the continents of Asia and Africa.
The first recorded consumption in the history of tea was in China, as early as the 10th century BC. Soon, it spread to Korea and Japan. During the 16th century Portuguese exploration of the Far East, tea was traded with the West and as a result, the tea plant spread to the rest of the world. It has been said that Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese queen consort to King Charles II, introduced the drinking of tea in the UK.
It wasn't until the 19th century until tea drinking became a common pastime for all the social classes. Now, tea drinking occurs as a daily occurrence not just as a component of afternoon tea or a tea party. In the UK, it has become a 'national drink' of sorts and an integral part of British culture.
Types Of Tea
There are (at least) four different types of tea: white tea, green tea, oolong tea and black tea. The type of tea depends on the type of tea processing it undergoes. Tea leaves are prone to wilt and therefore oxidise, if they are not dried quickly. As the chlorophyll breaks down, the tea leaves darken and release tannins; this process is called fermentation in the tea industry.
Tea as we know it in the UK is more often sold as teabags. Most popular brands of teabags are usually made by blending a variety of different teas together. Tea is renowned for containing numerous antioxidants and less caffeine than coffee. There are also certain teas used in diets and tea for weight loss.
AFTERNOON TEA ETIQUETTE
Tea Etiquette:
Afternoon tea is considered an elegant affair, and we encourage guests to follow these etiquette guidelines for a refined experience:
Dress Appropriately:
Please come dressed in a manner befitting an elegant occasion.
Keep Phones Off the Table:
Phones should be kept in your lap or on a side table, not on the tea table.
Put Your Pinkie Finger Down:
Raise your teacup by the handle, not by the pinkie.
Hold the Teacup by the Handle:
Always hold the teacup by its handle, not the rim.
Stir Up and Down, Not in Circles:
Stir your tea gently up and down, avoiding circular stirring.
Don’t Drink from Your Teacup with the Teaspoon in It:
Remove the teaspoon before drinking.
Don’t Put the Teaspoon in Your Mouth:
The teaspoon should only be used for stirring or placing it on the saucer.
Saucer Stays on the Table:
Always keep your saucer on the table, not in your hand.
Don’t Blow on the Tea to Cool It Down:
Wait for your tea to cool naturally.
Take Small Sips of Tea:
Sip your tea gracefully, in small amounts.
Don’t Swish Your Mouth with Tea:
Take small, delicate sips—don’t swish the tea in your mouth.
Use Milk and Sugar Only for Black Tea:
Add milk and sugar to black tea if desired; avoid adding them to other types of tea.
Eat with Your Fingers:
It is perfectly acceptable to eat sandwiches and scones with your fingers.
Tea Sandwiches Are Eaten First:
Begin with the tea sandwiches, followed by scones and sweets.
Break the Scone into Small Pieces:
Tear your scone into small, manageable pieces instead of biting directly into it.
Never Dunk Your Scone into Tea:
It’s a breach of etiquette to dunk your scone into your tea.
Used Utensils Don’t Go Back on the Table:
After using your utensils, place them on the edge of your plate, not back on the table.
Don’t Lick Your Fingers:
Always use a napkin, not your fingers, when necessary.