English afternoon tea

English afternoon tea or simply afternoon tea is a traditional blend of teas originating from India, China, Africa and Sri Lanka. Afternoon tea blends are often lighter than breakfast blends, being designed to "complement, rather than mask the flavor of the afternoon tea meal".[1][2]

This article is about the blend of tea served in the English afternoon tea meal. For the traditional English afternoon tea meal, see Tea (meal).

The meal which comes with afternoon tea often consists of light sandwiches, pastries, biscuits, muffins,[3] scones or cookies, and cake as well as mixed fruits depending on the season. During summer, iced tea and light fruit cups were popular. In winter, spiced tea and warm punches are commonly served. The tea that accompanies the meal is described as a lighter medium bodied, bright black tea or other type of tea. Strong Assam and Kenyan teas are blended with Ceylon which adds a light, brisk quality to the blend.[1][2][4]

Origins and history

Tea drinking was popularized in England by Charles II of England and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. It was not until the 1840s that the concept of afternoon tea was introduced by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford. In the 19th century dinner was often served at 9 in the night. Anna who became hungry requested "some tea, bread and butter and cake". The idea became popular throughout the Edwardian era among the wealthy and elite.[5][2]

Afternoon tea gave people the chance to show off the best china and table linen. Upscale hotels and restaurants became popular meeting grounds for patrons of afternoon tea. The concept has lost popularity since the end of World War II, though it has revived in modern times.[2]

See also

• English breakfast tea
• Irish breakfast tea
• Tea (meal)

References

1. Richardson, Bruce (16 January 2018). "Understanding Tea Blends". TeaTime Magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
2. Lesley Mackley (1992). The Book of Afternoon Tea. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-55788-046-8.
3. Rosa Mashiter (July 1995). A Little Book of English Teas. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-1011-1.
4. James Newton. British Cookbook - Great British Recipes: English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish Recipes. Springwood emedia. pp. 36–. ISBN 978-1-4764-8314-6.
5. Johnson, Ben. "The history of afternoon tea - a great British tradition". Historic UK. Retrieved 17 December 2019.

Further reading

• Lydia Gautier (26 October 2006). Tea. Chronicle Books. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-0-8118-5682-9.
• Julia Skinner (5 April 2019). Afternoon Tea: A History. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 154–. ISBN 978-1-4422-7102-9.