Article - English Tea

Do Come For Tea

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“Tea,” in England, is a word with nearly as many definitions as Hawaii’s “Aloha.” Tea of course means the plant Camellia sinensis. It can mean a cup of hot beverage brewed thereof. In Victorian times, tea could mean the children’s evening meal eaten in the nursery with their nanny.

In working class and country homes, tea often refers to the evening meal. And then of course, there’s “A Tea,” a form of entertaining. This canbe a cup-a and a piece of bread and butter or a biscuit shared with a good friend. It can also be a sumptuous afternoon meal comprised of a staggering array of both sweet and savory tidbits, and that is what comes to mind for most Americans when they think of an English Tea.

The word conjures images of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane taking tea at the Mitre in Oxford, or James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon enjoying tea and a huge plate of Mrs. Hall’s scones, in “All Creatures Great and Small.” Afternoon tea also makes us think warm and cuddly thoughts of Pooh and Christopher Robin, Ratty, Toad and Mole, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Miss Marple or Alice taking tea with the Red Queen.

A Few Things You’ll Need:

To achieve a proper tea there are a few accouterments that you will need.

A china tea pot is a must, with matching milk pitcher and sugar bowl if possible.

Cups and saucers of course, not mugs, and they should be of light weight china.

Small teaspoons are a nice touch. You know, the ones you find in souvenir shops when you are traveling. You always thought they were rather tacky didn’t you. Well, afternoon tea is a perfect use for them.

Small plates

Cloth Napkins and Tablecloth

A pair of sugar tongs

Assorted delicate serving plates of either china, glass or silver

If you have none of the above it can be a fun adventure to haunt thrift shops, garage sales and antique shops.

Victorian Floral Tea Cup Teacups English Bone China Teacups Porcelain Teacups Ceramic Teacups Stonewear Teacup

The Tea:

Now please, if you’re going to go to the trouble to do this thing, don’t ruin it all by using an inadequate tea. Find a good tea or two. Offering more than one type would not be amiss. Black teas are generally more favored by the British than are green teas. Darjeeling, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Assam, a good Ceylon and for your guests with more adventurous tastes, you might try Lapsang Souchong.

Depending on your guest list, you might also offer an herbal; (Chamomile, Mint or a spice blend are nice options,) or an Oriental green tea, perhaps Dragonwell, Bancha or Gunpowder.

The Menu:

And, now, what to serve? Are you just having a friend or two over, in which case a plate of small tea sandwiches and one or two kinds of little cakes will do quite nicely, or are you planning a more elaborate affaire? If you want to go all out you should of course have a good selection of both sweet and savory tidbits. The following recipes are all tried and true favorites that were traditional offerings at a classic English tea. Pick and choose from among them to credit your menu and you can’t go far off the mark.

Savory Recipes:

Tea Sandwiches

Smoked Salmon Mousse

Potted Shrimp

Cheese Straws

Quick & Easy Cheese Straws

Sweet Recipes:

Scones and Lemon Curd

Seedy Cake

Traditional Scottish Shortbread

Anglesey Tea Cakes

Babury Cakes

Coventry Godcakes

A selection of jams and preserves in addition to the lemon curd to accompany the scones as well as bread and butter, round out the menu.