Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 24 of Life On the Brink!
Today we are talking about something very near and dear to my heart: Afternoon Tea! You may recall from Episode 21 called “The Art of the Picnic” in which I shared all my secrets to experiencing a perfect picnic and, in the same vein, today we are talking about another, equally-lovely indulgence that is perhaps a bit more intimidating.
Tea is nothing new here on the blog. We love tea, and sometimes the only thing that can make a cup of tea even better is a bit of ceremony. It's a natural progression, really. So today we're diving into the history and preparation of the beautiful, glorious tradition that is afternoon tea. Now, there's no need to fret; I know that at first glance it can look a bit complicated, even fussy. But I promise that it's not, and by the end of this episode you will be equipped with all the knowledge you need to host your very own afternoon tea. Are you excited yet? Let's go!
What’s in my teacup? A blend of chai and ginger turmeric teas with a bit of cream. It's a little spicy and a whole lot comforting.
ORIGINS:
People have been drinking tea forever, and no doubt when people hosted any kind of guest in England, tea and a little bite would be customary. However, we first see afternoon tea as a thing in 1840 by someone who shares my name (exciting!).
Anna Maria, the seventh Duchess of Bedford is considered the creator of this tradition. At this time, dinner was fashionably served around 8:00, and with only a small luncheon several hours earlier, it's only natural that people would get hungry in between. The duchess began calling for tea and bread and cakes around 3:00 or 4:00, and eventually she started inviting friends to share this little snack with her. Of course, she was a trendsetter (and a bit of a gossip) so over time this Afternoon Tea became quite the social event and other ladies began to follow this trend.
Over time, this mid-afternoon break has become integral to British culture. Today a typical afternoon tea includes scones, small sandwiches and cakes, along with jam and clotted cream, and of course the TEA.
Now, let's clear up some confusion here:
-Afternoon Tea is the tradition that we're talking about today.
- The term "High Tea" actually refers to a different meal. Rather than the fashionable and extravagant 8:00 dinner, many working people began enjoying an early evening meal around 5:00-6:00 that also included tea, but also included meat, fish, and egg dishes, as well as breads and desserts. Basically this was a light dinner with tea for working people. “High” actually refers to height of the table.
Afternoon tea is sometimes called "low tea", as it would be served in a sitting room, at a more coffee-table level.
Here are some more resources if you want to read a bit more about the history:
I've been fortunate enough to enjoy several beautifully prepared teas throughout my life, despite the fact that I live nowhere near a tea house. Here's a tip: many high-end hotels offer Afternoon Tea, and you can make a reservation without having to stay at the hotel!
Recently Josh took me to the beautiful Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach for tea to celebrate my birthday. It was truly stunning!
BUT. Today we're going one step further. Today we're talking about how you can make and host your very own afternoon tea with no stress. These are the 5 basic ingredients:
HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT AFTERNOON TEA
1. The table
-a teapot. It's kind of the anchor for your table. If you don't have a teapot, check out Harney and Sons or The English Tea Store, or better yet, your local thrift and antique shops! I always find such unique and wonderful teapots for very little money.
-teacups. By no means do they need to match, in my humble opinion.
-the three-tier stand. This unique structure is the pinnacle of afternoon tea. Even if it's not 3 tiers, any tiered stand is a beautiful addition.
-Of course, dishes for cream, sugar, and honey are lovely, as well as silverware, plates and cloth napkins. Not deal breakers, though, don't worry.
**NOTE: If you're planning on one specific occasion, ask to borrow tea sets from friends! I have quite a collection, and have given them to friends on multiple collections for their tea parties. If you'd like to make it more of a recurring event, however, it's very simple to invest in a few pieces for your own collection.**
2. The tea:
-My suggestion is just to have a variety, usually I go for a black and a green. You can never ever go wrong with Earl Grey.
-If you want to go the extra mile, check out this article on tea pairing!
-Here's a hack for larger groups: just fill your teapot with hot water and have a variety of teabags or sachets from guests to pick from! My bridal shower was set up this way and it was delightful.
3. The food: There are three main snackies.
-Sandwiches: cucumber and chicken salad are classics, and smoked salmon, egg salad, ham and cheese are well-loved as well. You can get creative!
-Scones: often made with dried fruit. Served with the classic trio of spreads: clotted cream, jam, lemon curd.
*Here's the recipe for the golden raisin, pecan scones from the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World (these are seriously good)
-Pastries: these include little cakes, tarts, macarons, madeleines, etc. Even if you're having a homemade tea, it's perfectly acceptable to purchase these from a bakery or shop.
4. Extra details: (not necessary, but certainly lovely)
-Music, of course. Scroll down for my playlist, it's the perfect background music!
-Flowers. They always add a little something fresh and special. Just don't go with anything too extravagant that it takes away from the tablescape. Less is more here.
-If it's a larger party, maybe consider sweet little place cards at each seat. So special!
-I've been to a couple tea parties that have delightful little conversation cards. The questions ranged from simple questions to very deep, reflective prompts. Each guest answers each question and by the end you are much closer to those at the table with you. I've shed tears at more than one tea, let me tell you.
5. The people
Just like a picnic, the delight of the afternoon tea comes from the company. Whether that's yourself, one or two friends, or a whole group. Tea provides a lovely, yet casual, atmosphere that always refreshes and bonds those in attendance. It's a chance to rest and relax, and sometimes we need that more than we realize.
There you have it! You're on your way to a beautiful afternoon full of love and and tea, what could be better? And because you just can't have enough afternoon tea inspiration, here are a few more delightful resources.
-Previous episodes:
-This wonderful collection of tea-related quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:
A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.
-Fyodor Dostoevsky
I was always brought up to have a cup of tea at halfway up a rock face.
-Bear Grylls
-A video by Nicholas Fairford on how to make a lovely afternoon tea. This video also includes some of his recipes for specific tea sandwiches!
-One of my Pinterest boards called "Regency Spring Dream", basically my inspiration for every afternoon tea experience.
This Week’s Little Joy: This week's Little Joy is a Youtube Channel by a lovely woman named Morgan Long. I've really been enjoying her calming, uplifting videos lately. She talks a lot about books and reading, as well as her creative life in Portland. Check it out!
What I’m Listening To: This playlist is perfect background music for your own afternoon tea. I've combined some classical selections with some film scores and other little fun things to make a lovely little atmosphere. It's almost 2 hours long, so you can just press play and pour the tea.
Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of Life On the Brink! Be on the lookout for our next episode because we are approaching ONE YEAR!
Lots of new developments in store, but until then, have a lovely week friends!