A Timeless Tradition
The History of Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea was invented by the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, a close friend of Queen Victoria, in the 1800’s. Due to the lateness of the evening meal she found herself peckish in the late afternoon and so requested a pot of tea, light sandwiches and cakes to be fetched to her room, and thus Afternoon Tea was invented.
Originally afternoon tea was for society’s elite ladies and consisted of crustless finger sandwiches, delicate sweet cakes and a scone with cream and jam and all of which was eaten with ones fingers. And was traditionally served between 2pm and 5pm to quell the hunger felt between lunch in the afternoon and dinner in the late evening.
Afternoon Tea differs from High Tea which comprises of meats and more substantial food and was traditionally the evening meal of the working class.
Queen Elizabeth II famously enjoyed Afternoon Tea, although she simply called it ‘tea’.
Originally afternoon tea was for society’s elite ladies and consisted of crustless finger sandwiches, delicate sweet cakes and a scone with cream and jam and all of which was eaten with ones fingers. And was traditionally served between 2pm and 5pm to quell the hunger felt between lunch in the afternoon and dinner in the late evening.
Afternoon Tea differs from High Tea which comprises of meats and more substantial food and was traditionally the evening meal of the working class.
Queen Elizabeth II famously enjoyed Afternoon Tea, although she simply called it ‘tea’.