As a Brit, there's something special about afternoon tea, there's no denying it! Finger sandwiches, scones and a good brew - you can't beat it!
WHAT IS AFTERNOON TEA?
Traditionally, afternoon tea involved sitting down to enjoy an array of finger sandwiches, biscuits, and cakes at around 4pm. It was originally designed to help bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, when the last meal of the day was often served as late as 8pm. It became particularly fashionable in the early 19thcentury, thanks to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who was a big fan of the afternoon tea. Perhaps that explains why enjoying this British ritual of finger sandwiches and high-quality tea can make you feel like royalty!
SETTING THE SCENE
Putting on an afternoon tea spread at home should feel like a special event so it’s worth going the extra mile to make the experience feel as luxurious as possible – especially under the current circumstances.
Choose a cosy corner of your home where you can comfortably sit for a couple of hours.
Make sure you use a table big enough to seat all your guests comfortably and that easily holds every item of crockery required for the meal. You might need room for your phone or laptop, if you’re doing things virtually!
Next, dig out your best tablecloth and place mats to set the table in style. Afternoon tea is an opportunity to unearth your finest crockery too – you know the plates that only see the light of day if the Queen comes to tea? This is that day, YOU are that Queen!
Add a touch of formality and sophistication to the affair by creating physical (or digital) menus for your guests to peruse. This contributes to the ‘realness’ of your afternoon tea and ensures they know what to expect from the afternoon.
Think about picking up a bunch of fresh flowers on your weekly supermarket trip. A colourful bouquet will make a stunning centrepiece and is sure to make the occasion all the more uplifting.
THE MENU
To ensure you pull off your afternoon tea without any hiccups, it’s a good idea to plan your menu well in advance.
The tea To avoid any disappointment, offer a selection of classic teas such as English breakfast or Earl Grey – these really are non-negotiable. If you would like to experiment a little further, throw a couple of unorthodox options into the mix too such as chamomile, mint or jasmine green tea.
The sandwiches When it comes to the sandwiches, traditional favourites such as smoked salmon, egg and cress and coronation chicken are sure to be a hit. Slice them up into small, uniform bites, and remember to cut the crusts off! Or, dare to be different with your own personal flavour combinations. You could even throw some sausage rolls into the mix! You are the host after all – make the day unique to you!
The scones
Slightly warm sweet scones served with jam and clotted cream is a mandatory element to any afternoon tea. Plus, they’re ever so easy to make ; try this easy scone recipe if you're not going for shop bought. If you want to get ahead by making them in advance, simply warm through in a preheated oven before serving. Don't forget the jam! A decent, berry based jam will always do the job or you could experiment with apricot or even lemon curd!
The cakes If you’re planning on making the cakes from scratch, it’s a good idea to opt for a mix of larger cakes and smaller treats. Larger cakes tend to be more straight-forward to make and can easily be served into slices, while bite-size sweets can be fiddly and time-consuming to make (although they do look stunning!). You can also buy bite sized sweet treats from most supermarkets if you don't fancy making your own.
THE EXPERIENCE
Throwing an afternoon tea party is all about having fun, so don’t agonise over having to make every element of the meal from scratch. Serve up a mix of homemade and ready-made treats to keep things simple; you might want to buy some of the more intricate elements, for example, which will add dramatic impact to your tea, and save the simpler elements, such as the sandwiches, to make yourself.
For a special occasion, why not pour your guests (and yourself) a Prosecco or bellini. You could even replace the sandwiches and scones with hotdogs and sundaes!
It's all about creating a space to enjoy the food and the company, so make it your own!
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