Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is a traditional meal time that, as the name suggests, prominently features tea. It was popularized by the British, who spread their industrial empire across much of the world. Today, there are many variations on afternoon tea across the globe, but they are all based on the traditional British afternoon tea, which itself dates back as far as the middle 1600s.

In some regions, the word “tea” is used to describe “dinner”, though this is usually not the case. In a traditional afternoon tea in Britain, you’ll find a variety of light (or not so light) snack foods served with a pot of tea. It is traditional to brew tea from loose leaves, although with the invention of tea bags, this isn’t as common any more.

Some snack foods usually served with afternoon tea in Britain will include scones (similar to American “biscuits”, whereas in Britain the word “biscuit” refers to a “cookie”) and butter, jam, as well as small, unique sandwiches. These sandwiches will usually be either watercress or cucumber, and make a very light meal, complimenting the tea. Four o’clock is the traditional time for a British afternoon tea.

There are often sweeter delights served with afternoon tea, as well, such as sponge cake or other small baked goods. A selection of meats is usually available as well, from smoked fish to ham. A traditional version of butter known as clotted cream is often used instead of normal butter in more traditional afternoon teas, although where clotted cream is not usually available, such as in the United States, butter is often used instead.

Afternoon tea is not a tradition in the United States or in the rest of Europe, though British-style afternoon teas can be found in these countries, usually served by specialty British-themed restaurants and cafes. Australia and Hong Kong, both heavily influenced by the British, retain tea traditions similar to the British.