The concept of afternoon tea is usually traced to Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, who – due to long periods between meal times in the 19th century – started to request tea and a snack of some sort in the afternoon.

In time, the Duchess invited friends and acquaintances to join her, and eventually the practice of afternoon tea became more widespread.

Nowadays, afternoon tea is most often associated with hotels and high-end restaurants, but it’s an experience that you can replicate in your own home. Here’s everything you need to know about hosting an afternoon tea party that you and your guests are sure to love.

Afternoon Tea Foods

When it comes to choosing the food for your tea party, the options are endless. For one thing, there are different ‘types’ of afternoon tea; for example, ‘cream tea’ involves tea, scones, clotted cream, and jam, while ‘champagne tea’ involves – as you might expect – a glass of champagne being included with the meal.

There are also modern takes on the type of food that should be used for afternoon tea, so bucking tradition and experimenting with different ideas is definitely worth trying. Here are a few ideas – both traditional and more contemporary – to consider:

• Finger sandwiches will always be a popular choice for afternoon tea, with cucumber, coronation chicken, and tuna and sweetcorn particularly good choices for the fillings.
• Scones, slices of (usually light sponge) cake, and chocolate eclairs are all popular, traditional, sweet choices 
• More modern options include cake pops, pretzels from the likes of Eastern Standard Provisions, or salted caramel cupcakes. In terms of savory flavors, consider shrimp tapenade canapes or cherry tomato tartlets.

Exploring Tea Varieties

Of course, no afternoon tea would be complete without the star of the show: the tea itself. There are a few varieties of tea that are particularly associated with afternoon tea: Earl Grey tea is perhaps the most conventional option, but you could also try other favorites such as Darjeeling or Assam black tea.

Herbal teas can also be an excellent choice; mint is an excellent ‘refresher’, while lemon or ginger can really help complement the food that is served. You could also consider more modern tea infusions, such as chai, matcha, or even cotton candy tea if you’d like to do something very different indeed!

The Decor

When it comes to choosing decor, “refinement” and “elegance” should be your go-to words. Here are a few suggestions to help achieve this: 

• Serve food on cake stands (even if the food in question is not a cake) for an extra touch of elegance. 
• Small side plates made from ceramic or a similar robust material are preferred. 
• Use a teapot and cups (not mugs) for the tea itself.
• If serving herbal tea, consider using glass tea cups. 
• Delicate knives and forks, ideally in a metal other than silver, can add a touch of elegance 
• Provide cotton rather than paper napkins. 
• Table decorations, such as flower petals or even small string lights, really look the part and help to bring everything else together. 

We hope the above information will allow you to host an amazing afternoon tea party for your loved ones very soon.