Tea Time Traditions: A Journey Through the UK’s Best Afternoon Teas

ByAbdelrahman Mohamed

Afternoon tea is a cherished British tradition dating back to the 1840s when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, started inviting friends to join her for tea and light snacks to stave off hunger between lunch and a late dinner. This fashionable social ritual soon spread across Britain, evolving into an indulgent affair filled with finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries accompanied by pots of hot tea.

Accompaniments

A traditional afternoon tea menu consists of savory and sweet delights artfully presented on tiered stands:

  • Bottom Tier: Finger sandwiches such as cucumber, smoked salmon, egg salad, and roast beef, with crusts removed
  • Middle Tier: Freshly baked scones served with clotted cream, fruit preserves, lemon curd, and herbed butter
  • Top Tier: A selection of sweets like petit fours, fruit tarts, macarons, sponge cake, and cream puffs

Of course, no afternoon tea is complete without the tea itself. Popular varieties include robust black teas like Earl Grey, Assam, and English Breakfast as well as lighter, more delicate green and herbal infusions. Milk, lemon, and sugar are the traditional accompaniments.

Types of Tea

While English Breakfast is the most classic choice, there are numerous other teas to explore:

  • Earl Grey – a flavored black tea scented with oil of bergamot
  • Darjeeling – known as the “Champagne of Teas” for its delicate, floral flavor
  • Assam – a strong, malty black tea from India
  • Lapsang Souchong – a smoky Chinese black tea
  • Sencha – a grassy, vegetal Japanese green tea
  • Chamomile – a soothing, caffeine-free herbal infusion

Popular Venues

Many of London’s most luxurious hotels are renowned for their sumptuous afternoon teas:

  • The Ritz – an iconic setting for a classic British tea
  • Claridge’s – innovative twists on tradition in an Art Deco space
  • The Savoy – a glamorous tea served in the Thames Foyer
  • Fortnum & Mason – a historic department store famous for its tea selection

Quaint tearooms in the countryside, like those in the Cotswolds and Devon, also offer charming cream teas featuring fresh scones with jam and clotted cream.

Etiquette

While the atmosphere is more relaxed these days, proper afternoon tea etiquette is still observed:

  • Avoid placing your napkin on the table if you need to leave temporarily; place it on your chair instead.
  • Stir your tea gently back and forth without clinking the spoon against the cup.
  • Hold your teacup by pinching the handle between your thumb and first two fingers; no need to stick out your pinky.
  • Scones should break apart easily without the use of a knife. Eat them in two bites.

History

The custom of drinking tea dates back to 3rd millennium BC China, but it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ emerged in England15. Introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford in 1840, it began as a private social event for ladies who enjoyed finger sandwiches, cake, and tea as a late-afternoon refreshment.

Queen Victoria adopted the ritual herself, and soon tea gardens, tearooms and teahouses began popping up across Britain as the tradition gained widespread popularity among all social classes.

Today, afternoon tea remains a beloved indulgence for both locals and tourists alike. From London’s grandest hotels to the humblest countryside tearooms, one can experience this quintessentially British tradition in all its glory – a delightful way to spend an afternoon sipping tea, savoring treats, and reveling in a cherished piece of culinary history.

Difference between high tea and afternoon tea

Afternoon Tea

  • Afternoon tea is a light meal typically served between 3:30 pm and 5 pm
  • It originated among the wealthy social classes in England in the 1840s
  • The menu focuses on small, dainty finger foods:
    • Finger sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, egg salad, etc.) with crusts removed
    • Scones served with clotted cream, preserves, and lemon curd
    • Small cakes, pastries, and sweets
  • It is traditionally served on low tables in a sitting room or garden
  • Afternoon tea has an air of elegance and is associated with leisure and high society

High Tea

  • High tea is a more substantial meal served in the early evening, usually between 5 pm and 7 pm
  • Historically, it was a working class family meal eaten after a long workday
  • A high tea menu includes heavier, more filling dishes:
    • Meat dishes like steak and kidney pie
    • Fish dishes like pickled salmon
    • Egg dishes and vegetables
    • Breads, crumpets, baked goods
    • Sometimes followed by cakes or pies
  • High tea is served at a high table like a dining table or counter
  • It is considered a simple, informal, family meal rather than an elite social gathering

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