Afternoon tea is a quintessential British tradition that dates back to the 1800s and remains a popular pastime for all ages. Whether you’re planning a celebration or want to savour delicious high tea, this culinary custom is perfect for all occasions.
A classic afternoon tea features tiered bone china cake stands with piled-high sandwiches, delicate miniature cakes, and scones topped with jam and clotted cream. Pair these treats with endless cups of tea poured from a vintage teapot, and perhaps some champagne if you feel extra fancy.
If you enjoy hosting your own teatime treat at home, read on to discover all the ingredients for delicious afternoon tea celebrations from the industry experts.
Where it all started
We chatted to award-winning bakery and tea rooms, Huffkins, to understand more about where this classic British tradition began.
‘The origins of afternoon tea go back to the early 19th century when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, introduced this meal to fill the long gap between lunch and dinner. The practice of afternoon tea then grew throughout the Victorian era when it became firmly established as a fashionable social event among the upper classes.’
‘The popularity of afternoon tea has increased even further over the intervening years to the point that tea drinking and afternoon tea are now perceived as intrinsic to our British culture to be enjoyed by all. We at Huffkins have seen a resurgence in interest in recent years, welcoming visitors every day from all over the UK and International tourists from all corners of the world who have come to indulge in this very British tradition.’
Laying the foundations
When it comes to afternoon tea gatherings, our oak and painted dining tables make the perfect backdrop. Whether you prefer to embrace the natural look or add a pretty tablecloth, our tables come in a variety of styles and sizes, including extendable options, making them ideal for anything from a cream tea for two, or a large afternoon tea party.
If you’re planning to whip up some cakes, keep all your baking supplies neatly in one of our larders. Offering endless storage space that also looks stylish, these oak or painted acacia freestanding units are perfect for bringing a touch of homeliness to your kitchen.
Styling your table for afternoon tea
Image: Collecting Seashells
Once you’ve got your table sorted, it’s time to have fun with styling it. We spoke to Tilly Wilson, CEO of online home decor boutique Collecting Seashells, who gave us some top tips for styling a table for afternoon tea.
‘When preparing your table for an afternoon tea party there are a few key essentials that will make your table look divine. Firstly, use a pretty cake stand as the centrepiece to show off your cakes and scones. Napkins are a must and placing them in a holder will help keep them looking nice and neat.
‘As well as beautiful china tea cups, I like to add a glass for those who like a bubbly afternoon tea. Finally, I like to finish off the table by adding a splash of colour with some lovely flowers such as pink peonies, which are one of my favourites.’
What to serve for afternoon tea
When it comes to serving the ultimate afternoon tea, the experts know best — from dainty sandwiches and scones with lashings of jam and cream to delicious cakes and more experimental sweet and savoury flavours. Discover top tips from these industry pros on their different approaches.
Traditional meets luxury at Huffkins
‘We believe a great afternoon tea should be elegant and sumptuous, combining a well-curated selection of savoury and sweet treats, served in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.’
‘Our essentials for the ultimate afternoon tea are superb sandwiches made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and soft bread featuring our favourite fillings including coronation chicken, tuna mayonnaise and cheddar, chutney and salad leaves served on granary bread. Presentation is important, so sandwiches should be cut in small triangles or rectangles and look neat.’
‘Freshly baked scones are a must, ideally a mix of plain and fruit, served warm with generous dollops of thick clotted cream and a premium fruit preserve.’
‘A mouth-watering selection of freshly baked cakes in a variety of flavours is always a winner, with different textures and colours. Classics such as Victoria sponge cake, triple chocolate brownie, and lemon drizzle cake, along with one of our much-loved signature fresh cream eclairs.’
‘Freshly brewed tea, either classic black teas or our own Huffkins house blend is a combination of single estate Darjeeling and Assam teas. Delicately flavoured Earl Grey, herbal and green teas are all also great accompaniments to an afternoon tea, as is a glass of fizz for a special celebration.’
‘The other essential for the ultimate afternoon tea is a three-tier cake stand. Huffkins was one of the first high street tea rooms to introduce this quintessential component, previously they were usually only used in fine hotels. We always serve our sandwiches on the bottom tier, scones on the middle tier, and reserve the top tier for our eye-catching and gorgeous cakes.’
The quirky approach at Shed 1 Distillery
Image: Shed 1 Gin Distillery
We chatted with Zoe Arnold-Bennett, co-founder and owner of Shed 1 Gin Distillery, who shares her unique take on this culinary tradition.
‘My love for all things afternoon tea started from a young age. My mother took me for my first one when I was quite young, and it became a regular thing for us to do. From local tea shops to famous hotels, to this day it evokes memories of good times. Afternoon tea is such a very British tradition and epitomises relaxed indulgence that we all should make time for… particularly when you introduce gin!
‘When we opened Shed 1 Gin Distillery to the public in 2019, it was a perfect opportunity for me to share my love of afternoon tea with our customers. We’re not a run-of-the-mill distillery, so it was obvious from the start that our afternoon teas needed to offer something a bit different, even a bit quirky. So, we decided to incorporate gin and some of the botanicals we use in our range of award-winning gins into our Afternoon G&Teas.
‘All of the sweet treats that make up our delicious botanical-inspired afternoon tea are homemade by me at the distillery and I’ve created each one using botanicals found in our gins. Think chocolate, orange and chilli brownies with cardamom buttercream and silver leaf — all the botanicals found in our Chilli Fest Gin. We even give you a little pipette of gin to sprinkle over the orange and lavender cake, and the humble cucumber sandwich gets lifted to another level!’
Zoe shares one of her favourite recipes that you can recreate at home. Enjoy!
We’d love to see how you’ve styled your Oak Furnitureland pieces to create the ultimate afternoon tea. Share your pics by tagging us at #OakFurnitureland #GrowYourHome on Instagram.
Lead image: Shutterstock | ©Magdanatka
