What is Afternoon Tea and the Story Behind it

Discover our informative guide on all things Afternoon Tea, including the history, tea menu and what time afternoon tea is typically served.

Afternoon Tea, one of Britain’s finest traditions, is truly one of life’s great pleasures. The journey towards the top of the tiered stand, from savoury to sweet, is a treat like no other. At The Ritz, we pride ourselves on serving the quintessential, English Afternoon Tea, which has been a pillar of The Ritz’s character since the hotel first opened its doors in 1906, and remains so to this day. A world of refined service and exquisite flavours awaits.

What is Afternoon Tea?

The answer to what is Afternoon Tea has evolved significantly since its origins in the 1840s, when the Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell, a lifelong friend of Queen Victoria and a prominent member of London society, introduced this delightful tradition.

For those wondering, what is Afternoon Tea, it is a delightful British tradition that brings together indulgence and elegance, offering a selection of finely crafted treats served with expertly brewed tea.

As part of Afternoon Tea history, the Duchess of Bedford, during a visit to the Duke of Rutland, requested a light refreshment of tea and cake or sandwiches to stave off ‘that sinking feeling’ between lunch and dinner. The ideal way to punctuate the afternoon, she soon invited friends to enjoy it. Given her influence, it didn’t take long before other ladies of society started to host their own tea parties, so Afternoon Tea was born. As time went on, the custom became increasingly popular. What is an Afternoon Tea today? It has transformed from a light, mid-afternoon snack into a refined tradition featuring finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries, served with tea and often a glass of Champagne.

The afternoon tea history has influenced the variety found on today’s menu, evolving from simple tea and bread to the luxurious spread of delicacies enjoyed at The Ritz.

What is on an Afternoon Tea menu?

The first joyous mouthful comes courtesy of the meticulously prepared finger sandwiches. A fine elevation from the sandwiches of every day, each kind is made with a different bread to complement the filling. Brioche, tomato, granary, malt, and sourdough are all featured on the menu, each offering new, enticing textures and flavours to the ones that came before. Guests can expect a multitude of generously filled, delicate sandwiches, from Scottish Smoked Salmon with Lemon Butter and Egg Mayonnaise with Chopped Shallots and Watercress to Cucumber with Cream Cheese, Dill and Mint and Chicken with Tarragon Creamed Mayonnaise. It isn’t easy to know where to begin.

Guests may wonder how many sandwiches are there per person for Afternoon Tea? At The Ritz, it is our pleasure to replenish sandwiches on request, meaning guests certainly won’t be going home hungry.

Soon enough one of our charming waiters will arrive at the table with a plate of warm scones, fresh from the oven. The nostalgic scent of plain and fruited scones floats through the air, inviting guests to taste. Served alongside rich Cornish clotted cream and a delightfully balanced strawberry preserve, there’s no more British a delicacy than this.

Finishing with grace, just the Afternoon Tea pastries and cakes remain. The skilled Ritz Pastry Chefs continuously change these exquisitely decorated and flavoured pastries according to the seasons. In the summer months, guests are likely to find a Petit Gateau of Strawberry with Vanilla Chantilly, whereas guests enjoying our Christmas Afternoon Tea may well discover a Spiced Pear Mousse with White Chocolate. Additionally, vegetarian, and vegan diners needn’t worry, our Chefs attentively cater for any dietary requirements.

What to drink with Afternoon Tea?

The afternoon tea menu is seamlessly accompanied by an expertly brewed cup of loose-leaf tea. When the tradition arose in Victorian times, tea was an expensive commodity and, therefore, exclusively reserved for the upper class. Today, however, tea is the nation’s favourite drink. The British sip their way through over 100 million cups each day. But there’s not a tea bag in sight at The Ritz, as we are the only hotel in the UK to have a certified Tea Master. He travels around the world to various tea plantations, sourcing our excellent loose-leaf teas to create our tea menu featuring 18 different varieties. Our Tea Master blends three teas on the menu in-house, including The Ritz Royal English tea, but the recipe is our secret…

The final touch for an Afternoon Tea celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or simply a Wednesday is, of course, a chilled glass of Barons de Rothschild ‘Réserve Ritz’ Champagne. Cheers!

What time is Afternoon Tea?

As the name suggests, Afternoon Tea is typically served between lunch and dinner. However, at The Ritz, we have five sittings a day: 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 7:30 pm. Thus, guests can take afternoon tea whenever they desire, be it morning, noon, or night.

The Duchess of Bedford may not have realised exactly what she was creating when she hankered for tea and cake one afternoon almost 200 years ago. But we are glad she did, and we hope this sophisticated tradition continues.