The Foodie: Afternoon Tea

Tea has played a significant role in England: from at-home gatherings to the Boston tea party, British cultural and political history has been thoroughly infused with tea. Reading tea leaves, attending tea dances and the expertise of “tea room nippys” have been instrumental in defining British tea culture.

The taking of afternoon tea evolved from the tea-drinking accoutrements brought over by Chinese and Japanese importers. Eager to find use for these unusual wares, British women became enamored of serving tea. But it wasn’t until Anna Maria, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, that afternoon tea became a daily habit. Anna Maria, who would get hungry between lunch and dinner, had her maids deliver her tea-making equipment to her boudoir. (In those days, the lady of the house was the only person who brewed the expensive leaves.) Anna Maria enjoyed her private daily cup and small accompanying snack so much that she invited friends to partake.

Afternoon tea in London is an enduring tradition. Some hotels and restaurants are renowned for preserving the ceremony down to the most precise details, while others serve it up with trendy décor and exotic leaves. Hotels like Claridge’s and the Ritz still offer the former, while restaurants like Yauatcha offer a more modern take on afternoon tea.

One English tearoom doesn’t take tea lightly. Customers at a Brighton tearoom are frequently admonished for bad manners and gently reminded how to properly enjoy the perfect cuppa.

Plenty of places have adopted England’s afternoon tea tradition. The TeaGuide offers a directory of teahouses in more than 50 countries, ranging from the United States to Argentina to Slovenia. It’s always teatime somewhere. 

Though venturing out (or across the pond) is one way of indulging in the afternoon tea tradition, much pleasure can be drawn from the event at home. If you’re interested in learning more about a wide variety of tea types or how to procure and prepare loose-leaf tea, visit findingDulcinea’s Tea Web Guide for some of the best sources of information. 

The name “afternoon tea” is slightly deceptive. Although the occasion is certainly centered around the teapot, snacks are also an essential component. Visit the Joy of Baking Web site, bypass the somewhat obtrusive ads pasted on the page and bake up some scones, madeleines, shortbread or linzer cookies to serve with your perfectly brewed pot.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of spending the four o’clock hour lounging in a boudoir or in a fancy tearoom. Thanks to some spiffy tea brewing tools, afternoon tea can be enjoyed from the comfort of your cubicle. CHOW shows you some of the handiest accessories for brewing at a desk. Don’t miss the video, “Watch the tea tools in action.”