Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is one of the most recognizable English traditions, complete with elegant china cups, freshly baked scones, jam, and rich clotted cream. Surprisingly, however, this beloved custom is not as ancient as many might think. While tea drinking itself dates back thousands of years to ancient China and was introduced to England in the 17th century by King Charles II and his Portuguese wife, Catherine of Braganza, the idea of “afternoon tea” didn’t emerge until much later, in the 1800s.

The tradition is credited to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, around 1840. She often felt hungry in the late afternoon because dinner in aristocratic households was served quite late, typically around 8 p.m. To bridge this gap, she began requesting a light snack of tea, bread and butter, and cake to be brought to her room. (Around this time, the concept of the sandwich—placing fillings between slices of bread—had already been popularized.) What began as a personal solution soon turned into a social habit, as the Duchess started inviting friends to join her.

Before long, afternoon tea evolved into a fashionable gathering among the upper classes. By the 1880s, it had become quite an event, with well-dressed ladies wearing gowns, gloves, and hats while enjoying tea in elegant drawing rooms between four and five o’clock.

A traditional afternoon tea typically includes a variety of delicate finger sandwiches—famously including thin cucumber slices—along with scones served with clotted cream and jam. Cakes, pastries, and high-quality tea (often from India or Sri Lanka) are also part of the spread, served from silver teapots into fine bone china cups.

In modern times, the custom has become much more casual in everyday households, often consisting of a simple cup of tea and a biscuit or small cake, usually made with a teabag. For purists, this is a far cry from the original experience.

For those seeking an authentic taste of tradition, visiting a luxury hotel in London or a charming countryside tearoom is highly recommended. The famous Devonshire cream tea, for example, features scones, strawberry jam, and the essential Devon clotted cream, all served with hot tea in elegant cups. Other regions in the West Country—such as Cornwall, Dorset, and Somerset—also pride themselves on their own versions.

Of course, one long-standing debate remains: should the cream or the jam go on first? The rivalry between Devon and Cornwall continues, with Devon insisting on cream first, followed by jam, while Cornwall argues the opposite. While opinions differ, one thing is certain—afternoon tea remains a delightful and enduring part of British culture.