This 'Afternoon Tea' business (just had my first one)!

[Afternoonteavirgin]

So, as far as I understand it began as the realm of the aristocratic or upper classes, who may have lunched early, and dined late thus needed something in-between, and now we're all at it.

Is that right?

Are there things it originally contained that it now doesn't?
Where did the idea of what it contained come from?

I'm just curious, just thought some may want to discuss.

When I was a child it seemed to be something that older people did. Got out the best tea-set and cakes and scones although I don't remember sandwiches.

It hasn't ever been something that has appealed to me as an adult because I just don't have a sweet tooth at all. If I want a 'treat' it'd either be dinner in a nice restaurant or some very-bad-for-me junk food in a pub with a couple of glasses of wine.

However i was given a voucher for afternoon tea at a 'naice' hotel as a present, so I've just got back from thaat. I took my Mum

We had two different types of sandwiches, two scones, 3 types of little cakes, an onion bhaji with a generous dollop of mango chutney on it, and two pea and mint falafel balls. And tea.

I find this such an odd combination 🤣

It was great in its own way though! And a lovely place! No complaints (the service was slow but they had a wedding).

Is this fairly typical?

And most important of all, are you meant to eat your cakes/put jam on your scones on the same little plate that you've had your savoury sandwiches/mango chutney on? Is that not a little tricky?

Anyway the birds have got one of my doggie-bagged scones (I managed one, it was not enjoyable) and my cakes are in the fridge looking for a home.

This is very important.

I've only ever had them at London hotels but never had an onion bhaji that's very odd! The posh ones are usually sandwiches, scones and cakes.

The afternoon tea of Edwardian upper classes was a very simple affair I think. In the Importance of being Ernest I seem to remember bread and butter or madeira cake.maybe cucumber sandwiches? Nothing like the fancy afternoon teas you are talking about.

I've been to a couple and it has been finger sandwiches, scones & jam, and a variety of little cakes, with as much tea or coffee as you need to wash it all down. I could do with more in the way of sandwiches and less cake though. And they always seem to forget fruit cake. Both times I've come home with a box of leftover goodies.

Come to think of it, a good old-fashioned high tea on a Sunday is something I haven't had for years and years. Maybe it is time for a renaissance chez Haddock.

I love an afternoon tea but they are so expensive (in London) that it's a rare treat. The onion bajhis and falafels would be a real turn off for me! Very non U as Nancy Mitford would say.
Sandwiches should have the crusts removed and usual fillings are cucumber, egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon, ham and pickle etc. two fresh scones with cream and jam, a selection of 4 small cakes. Lots of tea!!!
Menus often have vegetarian and even vegan options now as well as champagne or Prosecco as an add on.

I always had only four sandwiches, two scones with strawberry jam, clotted cream and a few different types of cake. I never had onion bhaji or mango chutney.
I enjoyed my afternoon tea and for me is a different type of lunch. I always had it instead of lunch, because I don't eat a lot.

The ones in Edinburgh usually include haggis bonbons 😍 I like the unlimited tea aspect. Not a drinker so it beats bottomless brunch for me 😃

The one I enjoyed most had crustless sandwiches, scones and jam, mini savouries, like tiny sausage rolls and tartlets, macarons and small cakes, plus a wooden case from which you chose the type of tea you would like. We had a big doggy bag to take home.

The one I didn’t enjoy had open sandwiches with strange fillings, a smoothie, very stodgy scones and dry cakes.

I think nowadays afternoon tea is a bit of a swizz/blatant money-spinner for a lot of places, and can be much more about style over substance.

Having said that, I've had some excellent ones - The Wolseley, and the Emma Bridgewater caff in Stoke-on-Trent spring to mind!

I also had one at a posh hotel on Knightsbridge many years ago that was some sort of haute couture tea (the cakes and biscuits were all decorated as miniature couture pieces) - it was extremely cute, and a lovely experience, but wildly priced!

If I was catering one myself and people were going to expect traditional, I'd go for sandwiches - smoked salmon, cucumber and egg and cress, maybe slices of really good pork pie, small slices of not-overly-sweet cakes like coffee & walnut/lemon drizzle/apple tart, and of scones with strawberry jam and cream (although personally I'm not a big fan and wouldn't eat them).

If I was serving my ideal non-trad afternoon tea, it would likely involve cheese scones instead of sweet, with some sharp cheese, some chutney, maybe a mini savoury tart, and cucumber sandwiches, and then the sweet bit would be more pastry-ish, rather than entirely cakes. No sweet scones.

I've been for a few and while there are some aspects I like (not having all the faffing while everyone looks at menus and orders food, the idea of sharing with friends and passing the teapot round, how pretty it all looks, delicate cups and saucers etc) they are usually too sweet for me. If I'm going to have scones and jam I'd rather just have those with a pot of tea as a cream tea. So for the afternoon tea I'd just want sandwiches and a couple of small bites of cake. The cakes need to be home-made, I'd rather have one or two choices of home-made than several shop bought types.

There's a place near us that does a savoury version, you still get sandwiches and cake but instead of scones it's quiche, sausage roll, cheese straws or similar. That's much more to my taste.

I can overeat like everyone else, but the only time I had afternoon tea as an adult, I skipped dinner. They definitely were much plainer and with a choice of confectionery in the past, not all of it.

I really dont like "afternoon tea", far too sweet for me. There was a hotel in Belfast that did a savoury one for a while which I was tempted by, but thats stopped now

I went to a posh one and it was all so lovely but wayyyy too much cake

A wee tiny tiny cup of soup, 3 finger sandwiches - egg, salmon and ham, a tiny quiche then the scones and cakes/desserts - which I left

The tea was good though :)

Where I work we do one and tbh I wouldnt book for it. The tiny cup of soup, the three finger sandwiches, a sausage roll, and then it gets weird with potato bread fries with a sweet dip. Then the scones and cakes a - courgette cake, a brownie, a victoria sponge

Nope they arent for me, bring back high tea, much more to my taste

You can get all kind on themed afternoon teas now. Museums and restaurants often do it with whatever's going on (think Christmassy flavours, or a Nutcracker ballet theme, Easter themes, maybe something influenced by an artist etc). But in the main, savoury sandwiches, scones with jam a md clotted cream, a few small sweet treats, a selection of teas.
I love afternoon tea. Americans adore it too! I even introduced my future husband to my family at an afternoon tea at a hotel in Kensington!

i have never had one,
we did plan it at work but covid got in the way

I did a high tea for a birthday party last year (more substantial so fills people up for alcohol).

I am a big fan of afternoon tea done right. There's a place near me that offers both afternoon tea and afternoon cheese for people who don't like sweet things.

Your classic sandwiches, various delicious tiny savoury items, 2 scones, and 4 tiny cakes.

The cheese one has cheese scones instead of sweet and then a small cheeseboard to finish.

Seems an odd combo.

Typically I've had 3-5 types of finger sandwiches, crusts cut off, one or two savoury pastries eg a mini quiche mother strong flavoured, then 1 or 2 scones, then 3 little cakes plus a mousse or posset. No issues with eating it all

It does stem from Victorian era dining practices and originally it may have been bread and butter served I read rather than sandwiches and not as big quantities but they ate it daily - today's incarnation is an occasional treat!

If anyone here lives/is holidaying close to Taunton, had a rather delicious at Hestercombe Gardens though they have put the price up substantially since I went a year ago I noticed

I think they’ve included an extra savoury or two for a while but as the concept has risen in popularity and as an experience gift, they’ve all tried to set themselves apart with a theme or with a unique offering, hence onion bhajis.

It’s a way for posh hotels (and other not so posh venues) to make money by ensuring their tables are full at an otherwise dead time of day, and by serving relatively cheap, easy to produce food. And I guess it makes some premium venues accessible to folk who otherwise couldn’t afford them, for dinner or an overnight stay. In London the teas seem to be a big draw for tourists m looking for an (faux) old fashioned English experience. We stayed at a hotel on Friday night and a young American couple arrived back at 6.30 all dressed up having enjoyed tea at the Ritz.

I love a good nosebag as much as the next woman, but several plates of cucumber sandwiches, scones and cakes three hours after lunch, I really struggle to get behind. If I’m going to spoil my appetite for dinner, I’d rather wait ‘til the sun is past the yard arm for an aperitif. Although I am willing to make an exception for National Gallery scones, which are banging.

The Berkeley- they do a brilliant 'pret a portea' afternoon tea.
Love afternoon tea, have done loads of the London ones , really enjoyed the Wolsey as a pp said.

I'd love an afternoon bhaji

I bought the Ritz London Book of Afternoon Tea many years ago. It says sandwiches first then scones then pastries and cakes. No mention of onion bahjis, falafel or pork pies. I think items like that would be high tea, but not a traditional high tea, served with a slab of fruit cake.

It’s quite a nice idea to catch up with friend in an environment where’s it’s easier to chat (rather than battle against loud music/children/being hustled out as they need your table).

Best one I’ve had was in Edinburgh’s Signet Library. An assortment of delicious bite sized savouries (not just sandwiches) followed by delicate fancies. Unlimited tea. A real treat.

I'm absolutely starving reading g this. I love an afternoon tea and adore a scone.

I think these days they are often an excuse for a)chefs to show off how fancy/creative they can be, and b) rinsing money out of people for an otherwise unpopular dining time. I'm not sure your average Edwardian lady would recognise what gets served up today!

I still bloody love a good afternoon tea though!

It used to be more of a mid afternoon snack. A pot of tea with some bread and butter.

If you had visitors then you might serve a cake. Or scones but probably not both.

Then 'Tea Rooms' arrived selling tea and coffee and a range of snacks, this would be a pitstop on a shopping trip to a city. Lyons and Betty's were the big names, Betty's is still in existence. Lyon's had one of the earliest computerised systems for their accounts.

Nowadays it is more of a treat and is usually served in tourist areas or national trust properties. So they have all the possible things you might have eaten at a tea shop.