Ever wanted to host the perfect afternoon tea? Well with our easy-to-follow guide below you can delight both your guest and your tastebuds with this traditional English treat.
Set your date and send your invites
The first thing you’ll need to do if you are planning an afternoon tea is to set a date and send out invites. In keeping with the traditional English nature of afternoon tea, sending handwritten invites, or at least ones that look handwritten can be a nice touch. Don’t forget to add an RSVP so you know how many people you’ll need to cater for.
Get hold of all the supplies you’ll need
To host a successful afternoon tea you’ll need some particular supplies including a three-tier cake stand, tea plates and cups and saucers. You can usually find an eclectic selection of cups and saucers in the charity shop and if you do not want to invest in a china cake stand, cardboard options are also available.
The savoury course
Once you have sent out your invites, and gathered your supplies you’ll be ready to plan your three courses. The first of these is traditionally savoury and it is served on the bottom of the three-tier cake stand. This course usually includes delicate finger sandwiches with fillings such as cucumber, smoked salmon and egg mayonnaise.
Be sure to leave cutting your sandwiches to the last moment to keep them fresh and avoid curled ends. Make them extra special by using one slice of brown and one slice of white for each sandwich. Also feel free to add additional savoury delicacies including miniature pork pies, miniature Yorkshire puddings, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, and even haggis!
The scone course
Next comes the scone course which is severed on the second tray of the three-tier stand. Traditionally plane and fruit scones will be served whole so diners can cut and add their own jam, cream and butter. The cream should be clotted cream which comes with a rich buttery crust on top and is extra creamy and thick below.
Feel free to experiment with the scones you include and try something new like chocolate chip, or orange flower scones. The main thing is that they should be served with cream and jam so cheese scones are better added to the savoury course if you want them.
The sweet course
The final course, and the piece de resistance of a traditional afternoon tea is the third tier which should be packed full of delicious sweet treats and cakes. Of course, ideally, this third tier will be bursting with sugary delicacies that you have backed with your own fair hands. Although not everyone has the time or the flair to succeed in the kitchen, working with a cakes supplier to impress your guests can be a good idea too. Especially if they offer individual items like cheesecakes, tarts and mousses that will look perfect atop your stand!
Drinks
Last of all, no afternoon tea is complete without the proper drinks. Tea of course should be served piping hot and poured from a teapot to a cup and saucer. A selection of teas such as Oolong, English Breakfast, Assam, and Earl Gray both with and without milk is even better!
