Afternoon tea, or low tea, is a small meal or snack typically eaten between 4pm and 6pm. Observance of the custom originated amongst the wealthy classes in England in the 1840s.Afternoon tea, that most quintessential of English customs, is perhaps surprisingly a relatively new tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and was popularised in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife, the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza, it was not until later that the concept of afternoon tea appeared.

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon.The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter — some time earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had had the idea of putting a filling between two slices of bread — and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon.

This became a habit of hers, and she began inviting friends to join her. This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s, upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea, which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.

Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, including, of course, thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches, and scones served with clotted cream and preserves. Cakes and pastries are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver teapots into delicate bone china cups.Nowadays, however, in the average suburban home, afternoon tea is likely to be just a biscuit or small cake and a mug of tea, usually produced using a teabag. Sacrilege!

To experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition, indulge yourself with a trip to one of London’s finest hotels or visit a quaint tearoom in the West Country.The Devonshire Cream Tea is famous worldwide and consists of scones, strawberry jam and the vital ingredient, Devon clotted cream, as well as cups of hot sweet tea served in china teacups. Many of the other counties in England’s West Country also claim the best cream teas: Dorset, Cornwall and Somerset.

Darjeeling First Flush

The Champagne of teas from the Himalayan foothills, creating a light yellow to copper-red colour and a delicate flowery aroma.

Assam Leaf

A full-bodied black tea from Northern India. The golden leaf yields a strong, rich aroma, malty flavour and red colour.

Ceylon Orange Pekoe

A whole-leaf black tea from Sri Lanka, producing a rich amber colour with full flavour and scented aroma.

Traditional Afternoon Tea

Sandwiches

• Ham, grain mustard mayonnaise, white bread
• Cheddar cheese, chutney, onion bread
• Cucumber, cream cheese, dill, chives, caraway seed bread
• Chicken breast, horseradish cream, white bread
• Scottish smoked salmon, lemon butter, rye bread
• Egg mayonnaise, chopped shallots, watercress, white bread

Freshly baked raisin and plain scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve.

Assortment of British afternoon tea pastries and cake.