Recipe Video presented by Tara de la Motte
The Origins of Afternoon Tea One lump or two?
By Tara de la Motte
Afternoon tea is a civilised affair; it has all the sophistication of smart entertaining but in a relaxed environment - a meal of informal elegance that can be enjoyed in the cozy, relaxed environment of your sitting room or garden. Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is often credited with the invention of the tradition of afternoon tea in the early 1840's. Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00pm in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry, especially in the summer when dinner was served even later. She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea". Obviously the origins of the well known British tradition of afternoon tea cannot be credited to only one woman, but evolved over a period of time, as many cultural customs do.
How to Serve an Afternoon Tea
Not only does Agatha Christie's English detective, Miss Marple, knit and solve crimes, but she also serves a traditional afternoon tea to die for! Here's how you can do the same. Select the prettiest, most delicate, china tea service that you own. Make sure your cutlery is gleaming bright. Set the table with a snowy white lacy or linen table cloth. Add matching napkins. Use tea leaves rather than teabags, if possible, and provide a tea strainer. Set out the essentials. As well as milk and sugar, provide a small dish of thinly sliced lemons. Provide two teapots. One teapot should contain the actual tea. The other one should be filled with hot water. Serve dainty finger sandwiches, and scones with clotted cream and home made jam, delicate sweet golden crumbly biscuits, mouthwatering slices of buttery, freshly baked cakes and other fancies such as meringues and fruit - filled tartlets.. Have a three-tiered cake stand with sandwiches on the bottom tier, freshly baked scones on the middle tier and a selection of fruitcake and fairy/cream cakes on the top tier. Set out the condiments. Put jam, honey, clotted cream and butter into small individual pots or dishes. All these delicious treats create the quintessential English teatime experience.
"A selection of Sandwiches to die for!"
Here, it’s time to write your first, mouthwatering paragraph. Whether it's a cookie or a tart, every enticing recipe post starts with a good origin story. Describe how you came up with this recipe, what inspired you, what your family or friends liked most about it, etc. Hook readers in and show off your personality by being open and honest, or even funny! Include a number of undeniably tempting pictures under your first paragraph to get your reader enthusiastic.
English Afternoon Tea Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
Tara's Egg Mayonnaise & Cress Sandwich Ingredients:
White Bread
Butter
Egg
Mayonaise
Mustard
Cress
White Pepper
Directions
Directions should always be short and to the point.
Your first step should focus on prep. E.g., Preheat to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
All middle steps should describe what the reader should do in a certain order. E.g., In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Then add your eggs to the mix one at a time.
End with the final baking or cooking time. Describe what the final product should look like and when it should be served. E.g., Bake until the cookies have golden edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and set them in a baking rack for 10 minutes. Voila! Your cookies are ready. Serve them right after or store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Ingredients
Tara's Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwich Ingredients:
Brown Bread
Butter
Smoked Salmon
Cream Cheese
Chives
Lemon
Black Pepper
Method
Directions should always be short and to the point.
Your first step should focus on prep. E.g., Preheat to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
All middle steps should describe what the reader should do in a certain order. E.g., In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Then add your eggs to the mix one at a time.
End with the final baking or cooking time. Describe what the final product should look like and when it should be served. E.g., Bake until the cookies have golden edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and set them in a baking rack for 10 minutes. Voila! Your cookies are ready. Serve them right after or store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Ingredients
Tara's Cucumber Sandwich Ingredients:
White Bread
Butter
Cucumber
White Vinegar
Black Pepper
Salt
Directions
Directions should always be short and to the point.
Your first step should focus on prep. E.g., Preheat to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
All middle steps should describe what the reader should do in a certain order. E.g., In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Then add your eggs to the mix one at a time.
End with the final baking or cooking time. Describe what the final product should look like and when it should be served. E.g., Bake until the cookies have golden edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and set them in a baking rack for 10 minutes. Voila! Your cookies are ready. Serve them right after or store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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