What is on an Afternoon Tea menu?
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. Afternoon Tea transformed from a light, mid-afternoon snack to the grand ceremony it is today, consisting of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries, accompanied by tea and often a glass of Champagne.Afternoon tea is an English tradition dating back to the 1800s of taking tea with three courses of finger food, sweets, scones, and savories or tea sandwiches. It’s a delightful and relaxing time to sit back and really savor tea, treats, and good company.We serve our traditional afternoon tea year-round, with seasonal twists and extra touches for special occasions like valentine’s, easter, mother’s day, father’s day, and the festive period. Our afternoon tea is usually served at omboo, where the dress code is smart casual. Sportswear and robes aren’t permitted.Can you share afternoon tea? Yes! Most of our afternoon tea packages here are for two people, meaning you can catch up with a loved one, whilst enjoying some delicious sweet and savoury treats. From luxury hotels to stately homes, there’s a venue for everyone.Aristocratic men regularly partook in this ritual. So, in a way, attending a gentleman’s afternoon tea is a return to its roots, but with a modern twist. Invite your friends, male or female, and raise a cup to inclusivity and tradition.
What would usually be served at Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon Tea is a meal composed of sandwiches (usually cut delicately into ‘fingers’), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. Interestingly, scones were not a common feature of early Afternoon Tea and were only introduced in the twentieth century. English afternoon tea (or simply afternoon tea) is a British tradition that involves enjoying a light meal of tea, sandwiches, scones, and cakes in the mid-afternoon, typically between 3:30 and 5 pm.While many people may believe afternoon tea and high tea are similar, they’re two very different traditions. In a nutshell, afternoon tea is an elegant affair with tea, scones, sandwiches and cakes. Alternatively, high tea is a heartier meal featuring tea, bread, vegetables, cheese and occasionally meat.Afternoon Tea vs. High Tea – What Are The Main Differences? While both afternoon tea and high tea are served in the afternoon, one key difference between them is the time of day. Afternoon tea is typically served around 4 pm, while high tea tends to be served later in the afternoon (around 5- 7 pm).A traditional high tea menu typically includes a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, a variety of scrumptious cakes and petit fours, quiches and mini pies. And of course it wouldn’t be a high tea without a gorgeous selection of teas to choose from!
What do you eat first at afternoon tea?
The correct order to eat the traditional Afternoon Tea is to eat the sandwiches and savouries first, then move onto the scones, ending on the sweets. There are many traditions and superstitions about the way you should eat your scones. Believe it or not, there is a correct order to eat your afternoon tea. There are three courses to a proper afternoon tea. Firstly, you should eat the sandwiches, then the scones, and finally, the cakes. All of which can be enjoyed while drinking your tea.For a light afternoon tea, it is recommended to serve between 5 and 6 food items based on a 3 course menu. Course 1: One scone served with clotted cream & jam per person, Course 2: Two types of crustless finger sandwiches, Course 3: Two to three types of pastries and sweets.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. But you could also throw in pastries, petits-fours or biscuits. Don’t wear yourself out by taking on too many ambitious bites.
What does a man wear to afternoon tea?
For men attending any afternoon teas, they should consider an outfit choice that rests between formal and casual. While there are no ties required, you might want to opt for a crisp, white collared shirt which is seen as a safe bet when it comes to afternoon tea. Suggested dress for women Though some women will opt for a fancy dresses or long skirts, dress pants are fine if they’re well-tailored. For garden party teas, a floral print dress and wide brimmed hat would be a stylish option.A completely black look, perhaps with some metallic accents, is always a sophisticated choice for an elegant tea. A black dress with a midi cut, paired with an elegant jacket or blazer, can be the perfect option.You can try a fitted pencil skirt, a flowing maxi skirt or a skirt with a flared hem. Tailored trousers can also work exceedingly well for a tea party, but pay close attention to fabric and fit.The tea dress is a hybrid of a robe and a ball gown. It has a loose straight or semi-fitted cut, usually with a train, long sleeves, and a high collar. Sometimes it could have a small cutout, slightly opening the neck. A tea dress was put on without the maids’ help.
What is the order for afternoon tea?
Believe it or not, there is a correct order to eat your afternoon tea. There are three courses to a proper afternoon tea. Firstly, you should eat the sandwiches, then the scones, and finally, the cakes. All of which can be enjoyed while drinking your tea. 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.The 3 main foods served at Afternoon Tea are finger sandwiches (no crusts and with fillings such as smoked salmon, cucumber and egg mayonnaise), cake slices or small cakes (such as Victoria sponge) and scones.How much food to serve per person for an Afternoon Tea? For a light afternoon tea, it is recommended to serve between 5 and 6 food items based on a 3 course menu.How many sandwiches per person at afternoon tea? Prepare 3-4 sandwiches per person for your afternoon tea at home. The cake stand will be stacked from top to bottom with delicious food, so there will be lots for your guests to choose from, and you can be sure nobody will go hungry.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 dress code for afternoon tea?
Men should try to aim for a “smart casual” look, pants or nice denim jeans can be worn with a collared or button down shirt, and a smart shoe such as a loafer can be a good choice. For women, this is a fun opportunity to get all dolled up! Smart casual includes items like blazers, sports jackets, dresses, sweaters, trousers, khakis, skirts, blouses, button-down shirts, polos, dress shoes, boots, heels, flats, scarves and jewelry.Most venues have a relaxed ‘smart casual’ dress code these days, so there is no need for men to wear a jacket and tie (unless otherwise specified) – trousers or smart jeans, collared shirt and clean/un-scuffed shoes are acceptable. No sportswear or trainers (sneakers).
What is the dress code for the Sopwell House Afternoon Tea?
We serve our traditional Afternoon Tea year-round, with seasonal twists and extra touches for special occasions like Valentine’s, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the festive period. Our afternoon tea is usually served at Omboo, where the dress code is smart casual. Sportswear and robes aren’t permitted. The perfect time to book your afternoon tea experience is usually to cater for a light meal between lunch and dinner. Typically, anytime between 12 – 5 pm is the ideal time to book afternoon tea however, this depends entirely on your preference.For a truly traditional experience, aim for the afternoon hours between 3pm and 5pm. This timeframe, often referred to as afternoon tea, originated in England as a way to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner.