Everything You Need to Know About Tea!

Hello there!
How can one small baked good be so controversial? Is it s-cone or s-con? At the end of the day, all I know is that they are delicious and a perfect accompaniment with your tea for National Tea Day on 21st April 2020. This blog post will be providing you with everything you need to know about tea culture and afternoon tea including a brief history and how it has changed. I've even got two recipes that are a great twist on a classic afternoon treat: chocolate orange scones and lemon and blueberry scones. So, grab a cuppa and enjoy!

History of the Cream Tea - How it all started...

Duchess of Bedford...doesn't she look glamorous! (3)

It is believed that the cream tea came about at the same time as afternoon tea. It first became adopted when other members of aristocracy copied the Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria, in 1841 in which she is said to have felt a “sinking feeling” at around five o’clock so consumed bread and butter with tea. (1)
In the nineteenth century, families were having dinner far later in the evening so afternoon tea was a way of filling the gap between luncheon at noon and dinner that was pushed back to 8pm. This explains why the Duchess of Bedford experienced that “sinking feeling” in the afternoon. What better way to fill it than with tea and a sweet treat! 
The tea itself often consisted of tea from either Indian or Chinese origin, finger sandwiches, scones and small cakes which would have been prepared by servants. (2)

This video provides a brief history of tea and afternoon tea! (4)

How Tea Culture Has Changed

In comparison to when the Duchess of Bedford enjoyed afternoon tea, it is an occasion which isn't enjoyed as often nowadays. Our lifestyles are much busier, with many of us commuting to work or constantly being on the go, so we simply don't have as much time for this afternoon treat. Although, saying that, Sainsbury's has recently incorporated afternoon tea to their "on the go" range (5). Many people enjoy afternoon tea with family and friends as a treat for a special occasion since it can be quite calorific! The location has also become key when deciding where to go for afternoon tea with many new and quirky themed teas, such as a Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea or even Afternoon Tea Bus Tours (6). 

The drinking of tea itself is still largely popular and there has been trends in recent years of new teas like cold brews and bubble teas. Despite new trends, the UK is still a nation full of tea-drinkers with 82% of adults drinking tea at home or in the workplace (7). How often do you drink tea?

Various teas are popular because of their health benefits including that it contains a natural source of fluoride for dental health and has natural antioxidants which can help prevent diseases like cancer (8). It seems that people are "drinking tea" more nowadays than they are "taking tea" in comparison to the 19th century. 

Jam or Cream First?

(10) 

The great debate about scones, is it jam or cream first? Personally, I'm on the side of Devon when it comes to cream teas as I put the cream on first and then the jam. In my head, I always think of the cream as in place of butter as if you are putting jam on toast. However, many people follow the Cornish way by putting the jam first then the cream. There has been research conducted to see which is most popular and the result came back that 58% of people prefer the Cornish way, whilst 42% prefer the Devon way so I'm in the minority (9)! At the end of the day, they both taste delicious!

Afternoon Teas - Reviews 
Nowadays, cream teas and afternoon tea is seen as a treat on special occasions and offered by many restaurants. Below are some of the afternoon teas that I have had in London over the years and links to my blog posts where I have reviewed them. Where have you had afternoon tea?


Afternoon Tea at Boulevard Brasserie
This is a lovely afternoon tea in Covent Garden with an enjoyable selection of sweet and savoury treats!

Afternoon Tea at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

A beautiful setting for a wonderful afternoon tea with the best scones I have ever had!

Afternoon Tea at Caffè Concerto
An elegant afternoon tea in London with prosecco and lots of indulgent sweets. It was tea-riffic!




Now onto the fun bit of getting your hands covered in flour and having a go yourself! These scones make the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or you can always make your own afternoon tea to have at home.

Scone Recipes: Chocolate Orange & Lemon and Blueberry Scones
Makes 16 (8 of each flavour)

For the scones:

• 450g self-raising flour, plus extra for rolling out
• Pinch of salt
• 110g unsalted butter
• 60g caster sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 50ml milk, plus extra for glaze

Flavour Ideas:

• 1 orange, zested
• 50g chocolate chips 
• or
• 1 lemon, zested
• 50g blueberries
• serve with clotted cream, strawberry jam and marmalade

1. Preheat an oven to 220℃/200℃ fan/gas mark 7 and line a baking tray with grease-proof paper. Mix together the flour and salt in a bowl and rub the butter in with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. 

2. Stir in the sugar then add the eggs and milk. Bring together to form a dough then split into two and place in separate bowls. This is when you can add flavours to your mix. 

3. For the chocolate orange scones add orange zest and chocolate chips. 
For the lemon and blueberry scones add the lemon zest and blueberries but be aware this dough will be wetter so may require more flour when rolling out.

4. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface then roll out to 2cm thick with a floured rolling pin and cut out with a 5cm fluted cutter.

Place on the baking tray and repeat to use up all the dough, then brush with milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden and risen.

Serve warm with your choice of clotted cream, strawberry jam or marmalade. 

Chocolate Orange Scones...ta dah!

Lemon and Blueberry Scones..ta dah!

Final Thoughts on Tea Culture

Hopefully you now know more about tea culture and that it is the Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria, who you need to be grateful to for the origins of afternoon tea!

Just to end, this is a great quote by writer Henry James (11) which sums up afternoon tea perfectly: "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea".
Enjoy your scones and tea this National Tea Day!

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