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What is Afternoon Tea?

By Faith Lingle

21st September 2023

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If you’re looking for something a bit different when it comes to enjoying a meal, why not try afternoon tea in the Lake District? Enjoy a wide selection of finger sandwiches, Earl Grey tea and lots of delicious sweet treats in a relaxed and refined setting with your friends.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about this afternoon treat, from what it is and where it came from to some of the best places serving this tea-time wonder.

WHAT IS AFTERNOON TEA?

Afternoon tea is a British tradition dating all the way back to the 1800s and was developed as a light meal.

An afternoon tea menu usually consists of:

Finger sandwiches
Scones with a selection of clotted cream and jam
More sweets and cakes
Sometimes pastries and Champagne

All of these are placed on a tiered cake stand alongside a selection of tea. Earl Grey, green tea and black teas are considered favourites.

Many places have their tea served in fine China with a large pot sealing the deal.

Check out our step-by-step guide on how to make afternoon tea.

AFTERNOON TEA VS HIGH TEA

While both terms are often used interchangeably, afternoon tea and high tea are not the same.

Afternoon tea is a less formal affair than many people presume (although some eateries will have a dress code, so it’s always a good idea to dress appropriately). In fact, it is a casual form of light meal that revolves around finger food and a selection of teas.

On the other hand, high tea is served in the early evening, generally around 7 pm. It is more of a substantial meal, consisting of items like bread, meats, eggs and a big dessert.

While afternoon tea began with the upper classes, high tea started as a working-class meal served more out of the need for sustenance than a social event. Those at such an event as high tea would not have had the time or the disposable income to have anything similar to afternoon tea.

High tea began to be adopted as an elite social gathering over the years but was most commonly used when the servants were unavailable, so a slightly less informal meal would be had instead.

WHAT TIME DO YOU HAVE AFTERNOON TEA?

Afternoon tea was traditionally served mid-afternoon around 4 pm to keep the hunger away before dinner was served at around 8 pm.

The idea of this intermittent meal came from the Duchess of Bedford in 1840, who bitterly complained of being hungry. She requested a small meal of bread and butter, cake, and a cup of hot tea to be brought to her room.

Once she started to invite her friends, the rest of society began to catch on too, and so it became somewhat of a mid-afternoon tradition.

It quickly gained traction, and by the 1880s, it was common to change into long flowing gowns, gloves and hats and be served afternoon tea in the drawing room for an hour between 4 pm and 5 pm.

Nowadays, many hotels, teahouses, and restaurants set their own times for afternoon tea.

AFTERNOON TEA ETIQUETTE

In some places, there are a few rules to follow when attending an afternoon tea party. These include:

LITTLE FINGER

Contrary to what you may have seen on television, there’s no reason for your little finger to be facing the ceiling when you drink tea. The correct way to hold your cup is to support it with its handle in one hand and then place it in the saucer when not in use.

STIRRING

Stirring your tea, you should make 12 to 6 motions from the top to the bottom of the cup two or three times. Be careful not to chink your cup with the spoon as you do.

JAM OR CREAM FIRST?

Much has been said about whether you should put jam or cream on your scones first. It’s generally accepted that the jam should always go on first, although you won’t be told off if you decide to do it the other way around.

DUNKING

One definite no-no at any afternoon tea event is dunking. Nothing, including cakes or biscuits, should be dunked into your tea. It’s seen as slightly bad manners to do so.

WHAT TO WEAR TO AFTERNOON TEA

It can be difficult to know what to wear to afternoon tea. Generally, the accepted dress code is smart-casual. You want to look polished, but you also need to be comfortable, so don’t go too out there in the style stakes, as you don’t want to feel or look out of place.

However, within reason, you can experiment with your dress style. Why not consider floppy hats and oversized jewellery, or play around with bold and bright blocks of colour?

WHERE IS AFTERNOON TEA MOST POPULAR?

Afternoon tea is a big deal across the Western world. But, undoubtedly, the UK is the most popular place for afternoon tea, and it’s probably the best too.

Us Brits do love a bit of tradition, after all!

BEST PLACES SERVING AFTERNOON TEA

Let’s take a look at three of the best and most popular afternoon tea party hotspots in the UK.

The Ritz Carlton in London is famous worldwide for its afternoon tea. Although a pricey affair, everyone must experience it at least once.
If it’s a sheer tradition you are after, nowhere else does it like The Savoy when it comes to afternoon tea.
Here at The Daffodil, we think we can more than keep up with those fancy London restaurants when it comes to afternoon tea. Our bright and fun (not to mention delicious) menu is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.