Tea Blog

According to British history, afternoon tea was introduced in 1840 by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford.

She found herself hungry around four in the afternoon, long before dinner was served at eight—a rather large gap between meals.

To remedy this, she requested

tea

along with bread and butter.

The sandwich itself had been introduced earlier in the 1760s, when the Earl of Sandwich famously asked for meat to be served between slices of bread so he could continue his card game uninterrupted.

The Birth of Afternoon Tea

The Duchess soon began inviting friends to join her, and what started as a simple refreshment evolved into a delightful social ritual.

Afternoon tea expanded to include small sandwiches—particularly cucumber sandwiches—as well as scones served with

clotted cream

and jam, along with cakes and pastries.

Tea and Elegance

Tea was typically brewed in a silver teapot and served in

bone china cups
.

Popular teas of the time included

Ceylon tea

and varieties from India, often stored in decorative tea caddies.

In earlier centuries, tea was heavily taxed in Britain, making it a valuable commodity that was kept under lock and key.

While silver caddies were once popular, by the 19th century zinc-lined wooden boxes became more common. These were often locked and paired with matching caddy spoons—many of which are now collectible.

Was Afternoon Tea Truly New?

Some historical accounts suggest that the ritual may have earlier roots.

Queen Anne (1702–1714), known for her sociable nature, enjoyed drinking tea with friends such as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.

While this may not have been called “afternoon tea” at the time, it hints that the custom of social tea drinking predates its official naming.

Afternoon Tea Today

Nowadays, afternoon tea at home is often much simpler—a cup of tea from a

tea bag

paired with a biscuit.

However, traditional afternoon tea is still enjoyed in hotels and tearooms across the UK.

Personally, I’m very much looking forward to enjoying a proper afternoon tea in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

~ JB

Editor’s note: I am also very much looking forward to meeting our UK recipe/blogging correspondent during my travels!

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