Britain is a land with many traditions dating back thousands of years. These great British traditions are still practiced today after being passed down from generation to generation. Afternoon Tea is but one of these time-honored traditions of which Britain is so famous, that is served every day of the week in British homes as well as in the best hotels and tea rooms all over the country.

Afternoon Tea differs from High Tea in that High Tea table fare is, by far, more substantial in regards to nutritional content than traditional Afternoon Tea, which consists of delicate finger foods and plenty of piping hot tea. In days of yore, Afternoon Tea bridged the gap between luncheon at noon and dinner at eight. Nowadays people have more flexible meal-time arrangements due to their work schedules, therefore, set times for meals are less stringent.

Traditionally served at Afternoon Tea is a pot of good hot tea of your choice—a favorite on this occasion is black tea served with milk and sugar. Green and white teas are gaining popularity and catching up with old favorites such as Earl Grey, Assam and Lapsang Souchong. On this special daily event is traditionally served mouth watering finger foods and Devonshire clotted cream.

Cucumber sandwiches with the cucumbers sliced wafer-thin, and the best bread spread with the finest butter to bring out the crisp flavor of the cucumbers, have their crusts sliced off and are then cut in four, diagonally, and arranged attractively on a serving plate. Scones are served warm and spread with strawberry jam or other delicious preserves along with a hefty dollop of Devonshire clotted cream. A selection of pastries are placed on display, some made with puff pastry; others with choux pastry, filled with real dairy cream and jam or lemon curd, and served with lashings of your favorite tea. Slices of fruit cake and petit fours are also served on this occasion where only the best fine china is set on display with highly polished genuine silver-ware and tall display stands to match reminding us of our great British heritage.