After a breakup, or any kind of travesty, you may want to hide away. But the best thing for it is to get your closest friends, your favorite dress and matching lace gloves and go and frock it out over some champagne, tea and cucumber sandwiches. Because nothing says moving on like crust-less bread and doll-sized cakes! But before you head to the royal room, there’s some etiquette pointers to learn (and bonus points for adopting an accent to rival the Queen of England)!
Introduced by Anna Russell, 7th Duchess of Bedford, back in 1840, Afternoon Tea is a quintessentially English tradition. The story goes that the wait between lunch and dinner (served around 8pm) was simply too long for the Duchess to endure, and she insisted on having a bite to eat halfway through the afternoon (our kind of girl!). The practice of taking light afternoon refreshment consisting of tea, cakes and sandwiches served around 4pm proved so popular that soon everyone in high society was doing it.
Taking Afternoon Tea is one of life’s little luxuries that everyone adores. Plush hotels up and down the country are the ‘go to’ place for ever more delectable Afternoon Tea menus, while many upmarket restaurants and cafés have also quickly cottoned on to the trend. If you’re not sure where to start, an Experience Gift Voucher from companies such as Into The Blue can be an ideal first foray, and it makes a great present too!
Wherever you choose to take Afternoon Tea, it’s a special occasion that requires proper decorum. This is where many people come unstuck, daunted by an occasion that should be enjoyable yet where formality and etiquette can often lead to forced display of ‘best behaviour’.
Let’s take this opportunity to clarify a few misunderstandings, so that you feel properly equipped to take Afternoon Tea like a pro.
- Is there a dress code for Afternoon Tea?
While taking Afternoon Tea is certainly not an informal affair, the dress code is likely to be dictated by the venue as much as the occasion. Make an effort to look smart or smart/casual – meaning no sportswear or trainers, and preferably a shirt (tie is optional) and smartish trousers, while ladies can dress up to their hearts’ content.
- What sort of tea should you drink?
Depending on the establishment, there may or may not be a wide selection of teas available, and the choice is entirely down to your preference. At the upper echelons, a tea sommelier will be on hand to recommend particular blends to suit the palate and complement the sandwiches and pastries. The use of loose leaf tea is de rigueur for a proper Afternoon Tea experience – it enhances the flavour of the tea. Tea bags are strictly for everyday home use.
- How long should you let the tea brew?
Some people prefer weak tea, some prefer a stronger brew, and the type of tea you choose will also play a part. That said, the longer you let the tea brew, the higher the level of health giving antioxidants within it will be. As a rule of thumb, 3-6 minutes’ brewing time should be plenty for the tea to develop its flavour.
- How should you pour the tea?
Unless the waiter pours the tea for you, one of the party will be the designated server of the tea. This will either be the host or the person sitting closest to the tea pot. Pour one cup at a time, then add milk (and sugar) for each person – bulk pouring is frowned upon. Serve the most senior person on the table first.
- When should you put milk in?
Over the years, there have been many theories to justify both pre-lactarian and post-lactarian practices, and there isn’t really a definitive answer. The idea of putting milk in first is that it protects the delicate china from cracking when hot liquid is poured into it. However, in upmarket establishments, the tea will be served for you. Traditionally, just the right amount of milk is added afterwards.
- How should you stir your tea?
You may be wondering whether clockwise or anti-clockwise is the acceptable way to stir your tea. The actual answer is: neither is correct. A back-and-forth motion from a 12 o’clock to a 6 o’clock position is the only permissible way to stir tea, making sure not to ‘clink’ the sides of the cup. When you’ve finished, take the spoon out of the cup and place it on the saucer.
- How should you lift your cup?
When it comes to taking a sip of tea, the correct way is to use both hands to lift the cup and saucer, then, holding the saucer in one hand, lift the cup to the mouth with the other hand. Never bend over to meet the cup and never leave the spoon in the cup while you’re drinking. And for Goodness Sake don’t make the classic faux pas of sticking your pinkie out; it just looks silly.
- How should the tea tray be approached?
Afternoon Tea is traditionally served with a multi-tiered tea tray carrying a mouthwatering array of sandwiches and other savouries on the lowest tier, with scones on the middle tier and pastries and sweets gracing the top tier. While the order in which the little delicacies are to be eaten is not cast in stone, it is traditional to start with savouries, then move on to scones and, finally, sweets.
- Is there a correct way to eat scones?
Freshly baked scones are a particular delicacy rarely absent from any self-respecting Afternoon Tea menu. There are two acceptable ways to approach these rather fragile treats. You can either slice them in half horizontally or alternatively break off small pieces of scone, before topping each slice or piece with the desired cream and preserves.
- Jam before cream?
The traditional Cream Tea originates in the West Country where opinions are divided as to the right order of adding toppings to scones. In Devon, cream goes first with jam spread on top, while it’s the other way round in Cornwall. The important thing is to eat neatly and daintily, using fingers – easier said than done.
- What is the general policy on dunking biscuits?
Afternoon Tea should be enjoyed with a sense of occasion in sophisticated surroundings – do you really think dunking biscuits has any place in this? You may not get your wrists slapped but you can certainly be assured of a few raised eyebrows at the sight of this transgression.
