Afternoon tea is a British tradition that has been enjoyed by many since the early 1840s. It originally came around as a mini meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal that would usually be served much later in the evening. Today, afternoon tea is more of a treat to enjoy on special occasions.
With Mother's Day coming up, what better way to treat the lovely women in your life than with a homemade afternoon tea.
We’ve listed the need-to-know basics of afternoon tea to help get you started.
When should you serve afternoon tea?
Afternoon tea is usually served around 4 pm, just before dinner. But there are no rules on this so you can adjust the time to whatever fits into your day.
What do you serve for afternoon tea?
At afternoon tea is usually a mix of sweet and savoury recipes. You will typically find the following foods:
- Sandwiches, cut into small bite-sized pieces. The classics like cucumber and cheese and coronation chicken are always a crowd favourite but the options are endless.
- Scones, with clotted cream and jam (offering a variety of jams is always a plus).
- Mini, bite-sized cakes such as cupcakes, ice buns and anything else you can think of.
- A show stopper bake like a classic victoria sponge or a carrot cake to share.
- Little pastries and tartlets.
- Biscuits for dipping.
- Tea in teapots. Usually black tea or even flavoured teas such as Earl Grey.
- Champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine.
Must try recipes for the perfect afternoon tea
What do you need for an afternoon tea spread?
There are so many ways to make an afternoon tea look beautiful, the best part of doing it at home is that you can put your own spin on the classic layout. Here are some of the basics you need for the perfect afternoon tea.
- Items to dress the table. A table cloth and some cloth napkins are a great touch to add some elegance to your table. Make sure to iron them out for that professional finish.
- A tea set with a lovely teapot and some matching mugs and saucers can really pull your table together.
- A cake stand for displaying your delicious sandwiches and cakes.
- Fresh flowers and a vase to add some colour. This works well as a centrepiece for your table too.
- Put out everything you’ll need to enjoy your tea including milk, sugar, honey, serving utensils and any other condiments you can think of.
Tips for setting an extra special afternoon tea
If you’re looking to go that extra mile to create an even more special afternoon tea, here are some things you can do at home.
- Make your own personalised place settings for your guests.
- Add a few edible flowers to the food and cakes.
- Set a dress code so you can get all dressed up (a good excuse to take some good photos).
- Create a playlist of mellow music like some light jazz or piano bar to use on the day .