afternoon tea meath

Afternoon Tea History

We all know the feeling – we get to around 3 o’clock and get a little bit tired and groggy. We get easily distracted and our minds start to wander. The perfect solution for this is a little snack. Today, this is usually a coffee and a biscuit or pastry. Historically, the fancier of those amongst us would have scoffed at this and instead opted for afternoon tea.

It has had a rise in popularity over the past twenty years. Known for small finger sandwiches, little cakes, scones, clotted cream and of course tea (and nowadays coffee). It is a time for you to sit back, eat and talk. We can thank one woman for the entire concept.

The First Ever

Tea itself had a long history in England before the very first afternoon tea showed up, being common since the 1660s. However, it was still the preserve of the rich and wealthy at this time due to its big price tag. At this stage, the aristocracy ate a little different to how we do now. They would have a big breakfast, small lunch and then a big dinner in the evening. With the advent of kerosene lamps in the 1840s, this dinner time was pushed out even later.

Enter our main protagonist – Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. Anna would begin to feel hungry late in the afternoon and was looking for something to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. She started to order some bread, cake and tea around mid-afternoon and asked her friends to join her. Thus it was born.

Tea On The Rise

Anna went to London and brought her afternoon meal with her. This became popular among the aristocracy in London. Anna’s friend Queen Victoria even joining in, enjoying a light sponge with fresh cream and raspberries and birthing the Victoria sponge. With tea of course.

As the numbers grew, tea moved to the drawing room and in fine weather out to the garden. Tea was still a rare commodity at this time so serving it to large audiences in your fancy garden was a show of wealth. It was a relatively informal event, with guests being invited by note or by word. Guests sat in relaxed chairs, with tea being served on low tables.

Tea For Everyone!

By the 19th century, tea had become much cheaper and so more and more people were drinking it. Fast forward to the 1920s and music was added to the event. The super wealthy would have full orchestras attend their events, but tea dances became popular and accessible to all.

What Counts As Afternoon Tea?

Today, it is served as an event rather than as an everyday occurrence. However, the essence of it have not changed much since its origins. It is still made up of a selection of teas, finger sandwiches and bite size cakes and pastries. The only difference is currently scones with clotted cream are an addition, entering the fray in the 1920s.

Afternoon Tea Etiquette – What You Need To Know (And Don’t)

Afternoon Teas certainly are a delightful institution and a lot of people enquire about the etiquette and rules being followed if you attend these affairs to enjoy tea. What is the dress code being followed? How much time must you brew the tea? Do add the milk first or perhaps the tea?

We, at Bakealicious, have got a more relaxed look at this event, but there are many do’s and don’t’s which may have a regular connection to a traditional Afternoon Tea.

1 – Dress Code for Afternoon Tea.

Afternoon teas are formal occasions in fact it is only right that prior to taking a seat to experience this delectable repast, you stick to the right dress code. Generally in most places nowadays, the dress code is ‘smart casual’, so it is not really necessary for men to put on their Sunday best, unless it is actually definitely specified. Jeans or trousers with a collared shirt and clean shoes are perfectly acceptable for afternoon tea.

Sportswear or sneakers and trainers were not usually appropriate but even now that has changed. Women can follow a similar guide of dressing – nothing too fancy unless specified.

2 – Cream tea, Royal Tea, and High Tea.

This can be terminology which is used for Afternoon Tea and might be confusing. When cream and preserves are served with scones then it is known as a “Cream Tea’. Traditionally, in an Afternoon Tea, a variety of cakes, sandwiches, and scones are served together with the tea. Most overseas visitors talk about ‘High Tea’ when invited into an Afternoon Tea, but in fact high teas really are a different type of meal. It can have savoury food, and it is a heartier meal that was historically taken by the working class. It doesn’t usually have the same sweet and savoury treats as afternoon tea.

A less popular term is ‘Royal Tea’ which is significant as it adds a glass of champagne, for special events, into an otherwise traditional Afternoon Tea.

3 – Should I dunk biscuits in tea?

This is certainly a breach of etiquette that would have called for a stern finger wagging no. This is usually an enjoyable and acceptable practice at home. However, when you are a finer hotel in the country, it is probably for the best that you just desist from dunking your biscuits in tea throughout your Afternoon Tea.

4 – Cream or Jam. What comes first?

An Afternoon Tea experience is incomplete if warm freshly baked scones are not served with cream, butter or preserves. Individuals are often confused and get into life long debates about topics like what life means or the length of strings. What exactly is first, cream or jam is yet another such debate. People in southern England state they have invented Cream Tea. Within this, groups have their very own view on what topping comes first. Those who reside in Devonshire want to put the cream first after which comes the jam on the top. While those who are in Cornwall will put jam on first after which they place the clotted cream on the top. All said and done this will remain an issue of preference and nothing to worry about at afternoon tea.

5 – Should tea be stirred?

People have their own tastes along with their own method of preparing tea. You could add milk, sugar, or lemon. Immaterial of the items you end up picking, a very important factor you do have to do is always to stir the tea correctly. Your spoon must be put into the 6 o’clock position and along with the tea, folded towards the 12 o’clock position, being careful to discover your spoon is not going to clink up against the cup’s sides. Never leave the spoon inside the cup, but position it on the saucer beside your cup at afternoon tea.

6 – Letting your tea brew

This really is a question which is often asked, but it really again is dependent on your own preference, though science does play its part. Change the brewing time for you to suit the particular tea used and your very own taste, but a lengthier brewing time gives you a better amount of flavonoids, that are antioxidants which studies have revealed give many health and fitness benefits. Our recommendation is that you simply brew the tea for 3 to 6 minutes, so you will not damage its flavour and do as you want doe your afternoon tea.

7 – The right sort of tea?

Tea is available in over a hundred varieties, with each variety features its own taste, brewing time, and required accompaniments. However, the use of loose leaf tea will make for the perfect Afternoon Tea, mainly because it means that you can receive the finest of experiences. Popular brands of tea and tea bags get their own place, but when you use a speciality loose leaf for the tea, its flavour is going to be enhanced and will improve the overall experience with your Afternoon Tea.

8 – Pinkies Up?

This really is a strict no no. It is actually a misconception that this outstretched little finger will help to balance your cup while you are sipping. It is actually a wrong notion and besides being pointless also makes you look silly. Do not grasp the cup with your palm of your own hand, and do not stick out your pinkie. This really is a mistake that numerous people make while attending Afternoon Tea.

9 – Eating scones

It can be common practice at the best Afternoon Tea, to pull small bits of the scone, and top each section with any butter, cream, or jam, and eating them individually, because this reduces the possibility of social mishaps. This may not be a guideline that is always observed and you could always slice the scone and utilize the preferred preserves and cream on each section.

10 – Milk first or tea?

This topic, whether or not to add tea to milk or milk to tea, is just one that has long been hotly debated and remains an enigma as even good connoisseurs of tea have never managed to develop a definite answer. You will discover a benefit within both schools of thought. Setting up the tea first allows guests to flavour the tea for their own preference.

Should you place the milk in first, everything you get can be a better combination of these two liquids, and according to tradition the cold milk protects delicate china, as, in case the tea is boiling it might damage it or make it crack. Pour your own tea to help you make a decision. In certain places, however, the tea is poured for you and you could then add the milk afterwards.

Afternoon teas may have plenty of quaint practices which are linked to the experience. But despite this, keep in mind that best Afternoon Tea is supposed to be fun and you will only appreciate it thoroughly, if you do not let its etiquette get in the way of you enjoying it personally.

Varieties To Choose From

See the types of what you can try to shake up your experience and try something new. As we covered before, its is long and varied. To give you a quick rundown, it was served to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner in the 1840s as dinner was typically served late in the evening. It became popular for women to sit and chat during these events and was a relaxed space to do it in. 

Over its history, many varieties have popped up, below we will give you a run down of the different types of afternoon tea menu.

High Tea

High tea is actually not related to traditional afternoon tea and historically is a working class affair. It was usually served early on in the evening in the 18th and 19th century. It consisted of tea, bread, cheese, meat and veg. The high refers to the table, usually the main dining table in a house.

Cream Tea

Scones were not always a part tea, only becoming popular in the early 20th century. It took a number of things for scones to become a feature. With the rail network becoming more popular and letting people travel more, days out became more common. Thanks to refrigeration, fresh cream could be brought and kept fresh on trains for an extended period of time. While on the trains, travellers would be served scones, jam and cream with tea.

Travellers then brought this tradition with them. Thus, it was born. Taking afternoon tea on the tracks.

Types of Afternoon Tea

Classic afternoon tea commonly comes in the form of doilies, frilly table cloths and vintage teacups. However, it need not be just the one experience. You can enjoy afternoon tea sweet treat in whatever direction you want that suits you best. Read on to see some ideas that will let you enjoy afternoon tea even more.

Dress Your Table

Put a table cloth on your table to jazz up the event and give it a special feel. Tablecloths can be found in nearly all fabric shops or if you want something a little different you can try a few different vintage shops. They may throw up something a little unexpected.

On top of this, you can add some bunting to add some colour. This doesn’t have to be anything special, just something extra. You can break with tradition a little more and can do some fancy place names in calligraphy. If you are feeling really adventurous you can bake some biscuits with your guests name on them.

Drinks

Of course it is not afternoon tea without some tea. You can go for any kind of tea you want, from popular black tea to some exquisite herbal teas. Serve these however you want, in a mug, pot, fancy china, whatever you want. Earl Grey, camomile, mint, etc. are all commonplace at afternoon tea. Milk and sugar should be on the table too, but that should go without saying. Loose leaf tea is the perfect.

If you want to try something a little different, why not introduce some iced tea? An easy and interesting way to put a twist on the traditional afternoon tea. Or what about some champagne for a champagne afternoon tea?

Savoury Food

This is where you can start to make the afternoon tea your own. The gloves are off at this stage. Traditionally, finger sandwiches would be the choice of the day here. However, it is your afternoon tea so you can do whatever you want. Make sausage sandwiches, Rueben’s, toasties – whatever you want.

If you’re going more traditional then egg and cress, smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese, etc. are the choice for you. These savoury treats served without crusts and in bite sized fingers.

Sweet and Savoury Treats Ideas

Anything can go here really. Freshly baked plain and fruit scones, slices, full cakes, pastries are all on the table so to speak. Whatever you want is perfect here, everything can go for your sweet treats of choice.