What Is Afternoon Tea: A Step Back in History
2022-06-02
If you go to England and enter a cafe or restaurant, you may find a separate menu you have not seen anywhere else, a special menu for afternoon tea. But what is “afternoon tea” apart from simply a tea taken in the afternoon, and how has it become an English tradition in British restaurants?
What Is Afternoon Tea?
With the increase in trade and Indian exports in the 16th and 17th centuries, the English started to learn about the consumption of black tea, a popular drink in China. As the rapid expansion of trade and relations made the British companies import different commodities, the East India Company started pushing tea into British markets.
With the rise of cookery books, the British learnt the tips and tricks of making this Asian beverage their own. At first, tea was taken without milk as was customary in China, but then the addition of milk or sugar became a popular phenomenon.
By and by, they started to accompany some sweet snacks with the tea. The snacks varied and ranged from different kinds of sandwiches to scones, with cream and jam. The afternoon tea is normally served between 1 pm and 4 pm.
Afternoon Tea in History
The First Afternoon Tea
The earliest version of afternoon tea is believed to have been served by the Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, in the mid-1800s. In this period, she started the idea of including small snacks and beverages for an afternoon meal, and this appealed to the Victorian sentiment of the day. It was a sentiment that would ask for a formality for every occasion while being a reminder of the expansion and trade power of the British Empire.
By this time, tea had become a very important commodity for trade, especially with exports from British India. Another factor contributing to the advent of afternoon tea was industrialisation and the change of work schedules, making housewives prepare an afternoon snack before a full meal in the evening.
The Journey to the Present
Apparently, under the direct influence of the Duchess, Queen Victoria held parties before 7 pm, known as tea receptions, and invited royal guests wearing fancy dresses. The Queen was a great fan of tea even before that. Gradually, the new tradition moved down the ranks and the middle class and the working class started adopting it.
By the 1870s, afternoon tea was starting to appear more and more in middle-class households and friendly circles. By the end of the century, the whole country was upholding this afternoon tradition, and the meal moved from small private circles to larger halls and various social occasions.
Afternoon Tea Etiquettes
Historically, some men had a habit of using a saucer to drink tea. This habit was not very appealing. One of the mannerisms associated with afternoon tea is that you are not supposed to drink from the saucer, and only from the cup.
A tradition that has stayed till now is the host pouring tea into guests’ teacups and leaving sugar and milk to be added by the guest based on taste. Also, the Victorians would put the teaspoon by the teacup if they didn’t want a refill.
Wearing gloves before and after the meal was another tradition upheld within Victorian families. As the afternoon tea entered the public sphere, being served in restaurants and teashops, many of these etiquettes were dissolved.
Different Types of Afternoon Tea
*Photo by Carwyn Lloyd Jones - Dylunio Creadigol on Flickr
High Tea
Nowadays, ‘high tea’ and ‘afternoon tea’ are used interchangeably. Historically, high tea was, in fact, the afternoon tea for the working class, while the upper class used low tea to refer to their tea break in the afternoon. While they were both basically happening at the same time, there was a difference in what they contained; a difference which was mostly class-based.
Cream Tea
Cream tea consists of tea with an addition of cream, and cakes or scones. Jam and butter are sometimes served, too.
There are two famous methods of having cream tea. In the first one, you will split the scone in two, and cover each half with clotted cream, then put jam on top. This is the Devonian method. The other method, called the Cornish, has strawberry jam underneath and then cream on top.
The Typical Afternoon Tea Menu
Tea is a fundamental part of any afternoon tea menu. There is usually black tea served, and it can be Darjeeling tea, Earl Gray, or other non-British brands. Herbal teas and some exotic flavours can also be considered.
As for sandwiches, the range is diverse. It could be ham and mustard, cheese and chutney, and many other tastes. The scones, cakes and pastry types are diverse, as well.
Nevertheless, every cafe or teashop can be unique in offering its afternoon tea. As an example, in the rooftop restaurant at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, you will have afternoon tea options that come with Prosecco or Champagne. Its sweet selection consists of ‘black forest chocolate cup,’ ‘Macaroon,’ and ‘vanilla cream,’ among others.
The Connaught Hotel in London also has a wide selection of black teas to choose from. So, you may opt for Thé de la Longévité, Jade Sword Organic, and Decaffeinated Ceylon.
The Internet Cafe in The Knighton Hotel is also the first of its kind and offers non-alcoholic drinks, as well as cream tea in the afternoon.
