For the English back in the early 1800s, it was customary to eat only two meals a day – an early morning breakfast and a dinner at around 8pm.
Afternoon tea was invented to counter the big gap between those meals. Its invention is attributed to a well-to-do duchess – Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, who lived at Woburn Abbey.
Tired of experiencing a “sinking feeling” long before dinner, she found taking a light snack along with a pot of tea in the late afternoon would perk her up a bit.
Pleased with her new custom, she began inviting friends to join her. Soon the practice was all the rage among London’s fashionable society (read: the upper classes).
These days, thanks to the advent of lunch, afternoon tea is more of an occasional luxury: a rare taste of the high-life for the typical English woman and man.
Here are some of the best creative twists and interpretations of this great, fashionable social tradition in London.
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory inspired tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair hotel
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel has created a new afternoon tea inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (a new stage musical of the story has opened in London).
Guests are welcomed with a shot of a Fizzy Lifting drink to set the scene with a lingering sparkle on the tongue. Along with the usual choice of eight loose teas, there’s a special Willy Wonka Chocolate tea. The twist concludes with an everlasting gobstopper, a candy cane and lollipop.
Diamond Jubilee tea at Fortnum & Mason
To mark the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation, Fortnum & Mason (The Queen’s official grocer) is offering a Diamond Jubilee Afternoon Tea. It features some of Her Royal Highness’ favourite treats, including finger sandwiches, scones and cakes from the Highgrove Cake Carriage.
Tea with a slice of politics at the Houses of Parliament
This summer sees the introduction of afternoon tea as an optional add-on to the popular “Blue Badge” guided tours of the Houses of Parliament. Tea can be taken in the elegant surroundings of the Pugin Room in the House of Commons, a historic room with fine views over the River Thames.
The House of Commons chefs have created an array of savouries including citrus marinated Scottish salmon with cream cheese, lemon curd and chive on a mini bagel, and free-range egg mayonnaise with watercress on wholemeal bread.
High(est) Tea on the 32nd floor at Paramount
High tea is taken to a whole new level at Paramount, the restaurant and bar at the top of Centre Point. Ascend 32 floors and enjoy its all-new high tea – the highest in London, no less – with 360-degree views of the capital.
Rolling Stones-themed tea at The Royal Horseguards
The Rolling Stones are playing two concerts in Hyde Park in July (July 6 and 13). In tribute, Royal Horseguards is serving up a “Rolling Scones Afternoon Tea” until June 30. The tea includes savoury “rock n’ rolls” and sandwiches, “brown sugar” pecan pie and “angie angel cake” and “rolling scones”.
There’s also “Keith’s coconut macaroons”, “babylon babas” and “lickin lips cakes” based on the band’s famous logo.
Cheap Flights To London
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(The featured image of a tea at Fortnum & Mason is by Mike_fleming)
