The first afternoon tea dates all the way back to the mid 1800's, when it was common to have only two meals per day, those being breakfast & dinner. We learned that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford started the craze as she would be hungry late in the afternoon. This led her to the idea of having tea and nibbling on cakes for the fix to keep her going until dinner. This went on to become a social event, inviting friends over for tea and a walk in the fields. Of course, the invitee's of these events were hooked on the idea, and starting hosting afternoon tea parties themselves, so the word spread and voila, almost 200 years later, we have dedicated tea rooms and more hotels and venues than you can count offering these lovely sittings.

A Traditional Afternoon Tea Menu

A selection of finger sandwiches
(Classic fillings include cucumber, egg & cress, smoked salmon & cream cheese, coronation chicken, ham & mustard)

Warm Scones
(With clotted cream & preservatives)

Cakes & Pastries
(An assortment of home backed sweet treats)

A selection of tea's
(English Breakfast, Green Tea, Flavored tea and so on!)