Afternoon tea or low tea is a
small meal snack typically eaten between 4pm and 6pm. Observance of the custom
originated amongst the wealthy classes in England in the 1840s
Afternoon tea, that most
quintessential of English customs is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new
tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking
tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and was popularised in
England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife the Portuguese Infanta
Catherine de Braganza, it was not until the mid 17th century that the concept
of ‘afternoon tea’ first appeared.
Afternoon tea was introduced in
England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess
would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon.
The evening meal in her household
was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of
time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and
butter (some time earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had had the idea of putting a
filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room during the
late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to
join her.This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the
1880's upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and
hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room
between four and five o'clock.
Traditional afternoon tea consists
of a selection of dainty sandwiches (including of course thinly sliced cucumber
sandwiches), scones served with clotted cream and preserves. Cakes and pastries
are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver tea pots
into delicate bone china cups.
Nowadays however, in the average
suburban home, afternoon tea is likely to be just a biscuit or small cake and a
mug of tea, usually produced using a teabag. Sacrilege!To experience the best
of the afternoon tea tradition, indulge yourself with a trip to one of London's
finest hotels or visit a quaint tearoom in the west country.
The Devonshire Cream Tea is famous
world wide and consists of scones, strawberry jam and the vital ingredient,
Devon clotted cream, as well as cups of hot sweet tea served in china teacups.
Many of the other counties in England's west country also claim the best cream
teas: Dorset, Cornwall and Somerset.
DARJEELING
FIRST FLUSH
The
Champagne of teas from the Himalayan
foothills creating a light yellow to copper-red colour and a delicate flowery aroma.
ASSAM
LEAF
A
full bodied black tea from Northern
India. The golden leaf yields a strong rich aroma, malty flavour and red
colour.
CEYLON
ORANGE PEKOE
A
whole leaf black tea from Sri Lanka producing a rich amber colour with full
flavour and scented aroma.
RUSSIAN
CARAVAN
A
blend of China, Formosa and Darjeeling leaves reminiscent of tea carried to
Russia from China by camels.
CAMOMILE
FLOWERS
A pretty infusion, calming, soothing and delicate, elegant aroma.
LEMON
VERBENA
An
elegant, sparkling lemon tasting tisane, a refreshing digesif.
EARL
GREY
Large
leafed Chinese black tea with refreshing citrus bergamot, silky and smooth with
a delightful aroma.
OOLONG
FORMOSA
A
semi-fermented tea from Taiwan, attractive amber hue, slightly nutty taste yet fully
developed aroma.
JASMINE
WITH FLOWERS
A green Chinese tea from Fujian, scented with
jasmine flowers, offering a wonderfully perfumed light refreshing tea.
ROSE
CONGOU
A
black tea from Guangdong, China, enriched with rose petals giving a gentle,
light rose aroma to the tea.
PASSION
FRUIT AND ORANGE
A
truly wonderful taste, apple,
hibiscus, sweet orange peel blended with passion fruit and orange.
ROOIBOS
RED TEA
100%
caffeine free, rich in vitamin c, mineral salts, proteins and anti-oxidants.
LAPSONG
SOUCHONG IMPERIALE
Large
leaf black tea from Fujian, China, which
has been smoked over pine fires to give a smoky, silky tarriness.
CHUN MEE
An unfermented
green tea, long fine jade leaves,
elegant pale yellow liquor, lightly scented, highly refreshing velvety green taste.
A
wonderfully invigorating spearmint tea, caffeine free, highly scented,
stimulating in the morning, soothing
digestif.
This
White Tea is soft, creamy and velvety on the tongue. It has notes of fresh, honeydew melon and a
pleasantly sweet aftertaste.
AFTERNOON TEA FOOD MENUS
AFTERNOON TEA FOOD MENUS
Sofitel st james, London
Le Tea en Rose
Your choice of Jing tea
Finger sandwiches
Chef’s selection of four seasonal
sandwiches
Freshly baked, homemade
scones
Served warm with Devonshire
clotted cream and
rose scented raspberry jam
Parisiennes Pastries
Your choice of freshly made miniature French pastries £24.50
Your choice of freshly made miniature French pastries £24.50
Accompanied by a Rose & Litchi
Champagne Cocktail £29.50
Ritz ,London
Courtesy: 1ritz london
A fternoon Tea TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA
Courtesy: 1ritz london
A fternoon Tea TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA
Sandwiches
Ham,
Grain Mustard Mayonnaise, White Bread
Cheddar
Cheese, Chutney, Onion Bread
Cucumber,Cream
Cheese, Dill, Chives, Caraway Seed Bread
Chicken
Breast, Horseradish Cream, White Bread
Scottish
Smoked Salmon, Lemon Butter, Rye Bread
Egg
Mayonnaise, Chopped Shallots, Watercress, White Bread
Freshly
Baked Raisin and Plain Scones with
Cornish Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve
Assortment
of British Afternoon Tea Pastries and Cakes
