The Perfect Afternoon Tea

Who can resist the charm and sophistication of a delicious afternoon tea?

It is the perfect late afternoon snack to keep event attendees, staff or clients satisfied through to dinner.

At R&V we don’t stress too much about sticking to tradition here and instead explore some modern twists on the classic to excite your guests. We have put together some tried and tested tips to craft the perfect afternoon tea party for your event or meeting.

Firstly, what is afternoon tea and where did it come from?

The much-loved afternoon tea concept was first established in the 19^th century by Anna, the Dutchess of Bedford. She found herself getting hungry around 4pm (with her evening meal not being served until 8pm) and thus the afternoon tea was created to fill the void between lunch and dinner!

This quickly became a fashionable social event where women would meet to converse over tea in delicate China cups and enjoy a selection of dainty sandwiches, cakes, pastries and, of course, scones with clotted cream & jam.

A classic cream tea consists of hot drinks & scones, whereas a complete Afternoon tea is not quite a full meal but should include a nice mix of sweet and savoury treats.

Table setting

The arrangement of your afternoon tea spread is almost as important as the food & drink itself and helps create the perfect ambience.

High-quality table linen, whether it be a full tablecloth or a runner, adds to the elegance of your event.

Polished silverware is a must, as opposed to disposable cutlery and plates.

Arranging your food on beautiful 3-tiered cake stands adds refinement and will enhance the visual appeal.

Also, popping some fresh flowers along the table or throughout the venue will add colour and attractiveness to the overall event.

Hot drinks

Typically you will find Earl Grey and traditional English Breakfast Tea on offer but it is always a nice touch to include herbal options, such as peppermint and chamomile, as well as some specialty coffee and fruit juice.

Serving your tea in tea pots will add to the authenticity and if you really want to push the boat out why not look into hiring fine bone China teapots and cups & saucers for your event.

Alcohol

Many luxurious hotels or restaurants offering afternoon tea have introduced a glass of fizz into the package.

Why not elevate your attendees experience and offer a glass of bubbly – Champagne, prosecco, mimosas or bellinis will add a touch of elegance to your event. Be sure to include some non-alcoholic options too… swapping Prosecco for Nosecco is an easy way to create a fancy mocktail.

What food to include

We have discussed the typical afternoon tea spread and though we don’t vary too much from the classic, at R&V we do like to add a couple of twists.

Our afternoon tea packages include lots of small delights with savoury options including mini ciabattas and mini brioche sandwiches (fillings like tuna & cucumber, coronation chicken, egg mayo, guacamole, brie & apple) as well as gourmet sausage rolls with tomato relish and mini quiche.

The sweet options we love to include are colourful French macarons, mini pastries, mini chocolate & raspberry cheesecakes, an array of bite-sized cake bites, and, of course, the option to add on fresh scones with jam & clotted cream.

For even more of a modern twist why not include some cheese & charcuterie on your afternoon tea spread, with some veggie sticks and dips, fruit skewers and even some yoghurt & granola pots!

Scone etiquette – jam or cream first?

This classic dilemma is almost certainly brought up at any afternoon tea party. People from different areas have their preferred method and there are pros to both although ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

Us at R&V are on team jam-first!

To summarise, hosting an afternoon tea party can seem overwhelming but if you have the right venue and caterer (or you are quite the chef yourself) you can create a truly unforgettable experience for your guests.

To learn more about our afternoon tea packages please get in touch here.