Coffee review

What kind of tea do you usually drink for English afternoon tea? How? Afternoon tea source story and preparation precautions

Published: 2025-08-21 Author: World Gafei
Last Updated: 2025/08/21, There is nothing more interesting than an afternoon tea party. Fragrant flowers decorate the table, exquisite porcelain cups, and amazing pastries are sensory delicacies. Most importantly, holding your own afternoon tea party is a simple thing and a good way to express your personality. Learn more about afternoon tea and why you shouldn't call it afternoon tea and start planning a fit.

There is nothing more interesting than an afternoon tea party. Fragrant flowers decorate the table, exquisite porcelain cups, and amazing pastries are sensory delicacies. Most importantly, holding your own afternoon tea party is a simple thing and a good way to express your personality. Learn more about afternoon tea-and why you shouldn't call it afternoon tea-and then start planning a tea party that suits you.

The difference between high tea and afternoon tea

Although high tea sounds formal, it is actually a traditional event in which working-class animals like us usually have a big dinner around 5pm, such as steak and kidney pie. The word refers to the high table on which people eat, similar to the high bar.

On the other hand, afternoon tea is an exquisite social activity. We usually think of British people drinking tea. Yes, it is a tea party held by rich ladies. Afternoon tea is a stylish, simple meal with finger foods such as scones and cucumber sandwiches, as well as delicious herbal tea or real tea. It was originally enjoyed by the royal family and the elite society. In order to further understand the significance of afternoon tea, it is best to start with the history of tea events.

The history of afternoon tea

The history of afternoon tea can be traced back to England in the mid-19th century. Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, is believed to have invented the holiday tea art. In Britain during this period, dinner for wealthy families began around 9pm. Anna Russell (Anna Russell) often gets hungry early in the afternoon and asks for a cup of Darjeeling Tea and some snacks in her living room. Soon, she began to invite friends to afternoon tea parties, and when a famous friend, Queen Victoria, discovered the afternoon tea parties, the practice became popular and became common among wealthy families across the country.

Afternoon tea is usually served in the lady's living room, exquisite bedroom or living area, usually around a low table. This in turn leads to the event being called "low tea" in some circles. Afternoon tea becomes a time for socializing and networking, which usually includes discussing local gossip, recent events, and sharing personal news with close friends.

Today's afternoon tea

Nowadays, afternoon tea is usually three-course, using exquisite layered display. There are delicious snacks, scones, desserts and tea on the menu. For a formal afternoon tea, customers should eat salty first, followed by scones and desserts. This hand-held food is usually served with sauces such as butter, solidified cream and jam. High-quality afternoon tea uses bulk tea, which can be brewed many times, but some versions use tea bags.

How to plan an afternoon tea party

Afternoon tea service can be found in upscale hotels such as Ritz-Carlton and delightful teahouses, but special events can also be held in your own backyard or restaurant. All you need is some high-quality loose tea and some ingredients for making tea sandwiches and pastries.

Prepare the tea area

Although we like to say that we always have tea, a formal afternoon tea party should be held in the late afternoon-usually between 3pm and 5pm. You can set up multiple round tables to create a sense of intimacy, even if you have many guests, or you can take the traditional route and set up a small afternoon tea service in your living room.

As tea parties become more and more popular, beautiful teacups and tea sets become more and more popular. Using exquisite ceramic or ceramic cups or teapots to make tea, there will be a classic British style. On the d é cor website, decorating the table with lace is a good way to add elegance, while adding flowers adds a fragrant feel to the event. You can host themed parties, such as Alice Crazy Hat Tea, or stick to the basics and use cream tea service to turn your living room into a Devon scene. No matter which type of afternoon tea service you choose, add some thoughts to the atmosphere and let your guests really marvel.

Make afternoon tea menu

The best part of afternoon tea is that the menu is actually very simple. Staple foods include finger sandwiches, usually diagonally cut, without hard crust, as well as scones and pastries. If you like baking, you can make these snacks yourself, or buy some choices from your local bakery. If you want to make your own finger sandwiches, we have a great list of tea sandwiches to try.

Apart from snacks, the only other staple food you must have is tea. Although traditional afternoon tea is mainly concentrated in English and Indian tea, such as Earl Grey Tea, English breakfast tea, Assam tea, you can use any tea that suits you. Drinking tea is to enjoy this experience, so provide your favorite tea, whether it is spice tea such as ginger tea and masala tea, or flower tea such as hibiscus tea. You can also serve iced tea in the hot summer to help guests stay cool.

It's a good idea to consider the visual effects of the tea you're using. If you have a glass teapot, you can provide afternoon tea, providing an amazing visual effect that takes your tea party to the next level. Tea like discolored pea scented tea is a good choice. This special tea starts dark blue and then turns purple or fiery red, depending on the pH value of the added ingredients. Guests will like to see that when they squeeze a piece of lemon in, the hue of blue changes to purple.

Afternoon tea party, feel the royal demeanor

Afternoon tea is a classic tea tasting activity, which can be simple or refined, as much as you like. You can hold a princess tea party to get your children involved, or have a traditional tea party with some of your closest friends. Add a glass of champagne to each cup of tea to add a touch of imperial elegance. The possibilities of holding a unique afternoon tea party are endless.

0