A standard, well-balanced afternoon tea typically includes 3-4 finger sandwiches, 2 scones with cream and jam, and 2-3 small cakes or pastries per person, generally totaling 1,000–1,500 calories. It is designed to be a substantial, three-course snack, often replacing a meal due to its richness.
Usually consisting of a selection of teas, freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries with all the trimmings, a light Afternoon Tea should allow for 4 sandwiches, 2 scones and 2 cakes (of different varieties) per person.
What are the three main foods served at an afternoon tea?
The three main food groups at a traditional afternoon tea are delicate finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and a selection of sweet pastries and cakes, all served with tea, typically presented on a tiered stand.
“Never squeeze your teabags, as this can make your tea taste bitter due to the release of tannic acids,” explains Angela Pryce, senior tea buyer at Whittard. “Instead lift it out carefully after 3-5 minutes of brewing.” Our expert Dr Bond says five minutes is the optimum time to let your tea brew.
Afternoon tea is typically served between 3 PM and 5 PM, with 4 PM being the most popular time to enjoy a meal of tea and sweet treats. Rather than replacing a meal, the ritual of afternoon tea was originally intended to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner at a time when dinner was served as late as 8 PM.
What is the first thing you do when served the tea?
To serve the tea, generally the milk (due to denaturing of milk proteins when hot water is added) and sugar go in first. The person serving, which is considered an honor, serves the tea to the guests first and him or herself last.
roughly four little sandwiches per person (2 or 3 kinds); 1 average or 2 small scones: always one with cream and jams/honey; sometimes also one savoury variation. 1 or 2 pieces of cake/pastry (if 2, one rich, one simple) a few salad and fruit garnishes: lettuce, cherry tomatoes, celery, cucumber, strawberries, etc…
3️⃣ Most places offer unlimited food and tea. All the hotel afternoon teas I went to in London had unlimited tea and food. This means if you're done with the tea sandwiches and would like more, just ask! They'll bring you more without an extra charge.
How many pieces of finger food per person for afternoon tea?
Light Afternoon Tea: 3–5 pieces per person is the standard for a short break or when afternoon tea is not the main meal. Substantial Afternoon Tea: For longer events, larger appetites, or when afternoon tea replaces a meal, increase to 5–8 pieces per person.
There aren't any rules when it comes to the food, but a standard afternoon tea menu comprises a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes and one of scones or teacakes.
Eat from the bottom of the tea stand upwards—you can use your fingers. When eating sandwiches, start from the lightest fillings first such as salmon or cheeses, then move onto heavier meats. For the scones, you should pick it up and twist it with your hands to break it into smaller pieces.
Tea should not be paired with dairy products, spicy foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, alcohol, strongly flavored meats, garlic and onions, sweet desserts, or high-fat foods to preserve its essence and prevent clashes in flavors and discomfort.
Always use freshly drawn, cold water every time you fill your kettle. The oxygen in the water is vital in producing a lively, bright brew. It's important you don't over-boil your kettle – this can change the taste of the water and the appearance of the tea.
Different types of tea will have different things to look for, but in general, good quality tea leaves will feel heavy, silky, and creamy. They should also be difficult to tear apart. Another way to tell if your tea leaves are high quality is by looking at their color.
A mug's worth of water takes 48 seconds to boil in a kettle, and almost three minutes in a microwave. So, does it produce a better quality drink? Also, no. Dr Tim Bond from the Tea Advisory Panel says that microwaves heat water unevenly, which leads to uneven tea extraction, which leads to a stewed flavour.
Once your kettle has boiled with fresh water, leave it for a few minutes to cool down. Our top tip is never to pour boiling water over a tea bag or loose tea.
