What is a royal afternoon tea?
Enjoy a timeless British tradition at Covent Garden Hotel with our special Royal Afternoon Tea created in honour of our monarchy. From Coronation chicken sandwiches and fluffy Scones with clotted cream and preserves, to Victoria sponge and Lemon mousse with shortbread, it’s well and truly fit for a king. 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.Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. It evolved as a mini meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal at 8pm. Afternoon Tea is a meal composed of sandwiches (usually cut delicately into ‘fingers’), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes.A gentleman’s afternoon tea offers a creative twist on our beloved classic. Swap dainty finger sandwiches and elegant pastries for a hearty selection of good old English treats. Think sausage rolls, pork pies and irresistible cakes.Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3:30 pm and 5 pm. Traditionally it consisted of thinly sliced bread and butter, delicate sandwiches (customarily cucumber sandwiches or egg and cress sandwiches) and usually cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg cake or Victoria sponge).One of the biggest secrets around afternoon tea in London is that they usually come with seconds! You can ask for more scones, sandwiches, cakes and tea—not that you’ll need it. Afternoon tea is usually quite filling, which brings us to our next point… Do treat afternoon tea as a meal.
How long does afternoon tea last?
Afternoon Tea takes around an hour to an hour and a half. Afternoon Tea prices start from £81 for adults and £59 for children. Monday to Sunday: 11.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.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. It originated in the 1840s as a way for the upper class to bridge the gap between lunch and a late dinner.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.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.
Is there a dress code for afternoon tea?
While it’s no longer an experience reserved for the upper classes, most establishments insist on a smart-casual dress code to continue the aesthetics of the glamorous 1800s tea parties. For men, this could mean trousers and collared shirts while for women, it’s often seen as an excuse to dress up. 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!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.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!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.
What’s the difference between afternoon tea and royal tea?
Royal tea is exactly the same as afternoon tea — complete with scones, sandwiches, sweets, and tea — but it’s accompanied by a glass of champagne. A traditional tea consists of finger sandwiches, followed by scones with butter, jam and or cream, then cakes and, of course, tea. This was the usual contents during the 1840’s. Served on a three tier cake stand, the bottom tier traditionally holds the sandwiches, and the middle and top tier the cakes or scones.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.For a light afternoon tea, I typically allow: 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.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.
What is included in afternoon tea?
What to have for tea. 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. Don’t put your napkin on your plate and don’t put your napkin on your chair. Remember to stay as quiet as possible while enjoying afternoon tea. This means you should take small sips and small bites of food. You should never chug your tea or swig your tea back.Yes – it’s okay to go to afternoon tea by yourself! You can go wherever you want at anytime you want, and order what you want. You may meet some like-minded people enjoying afternoon tea on their own too!Proper afternoon tea etiquette dictates that if you are seated then your saucer remains at the table, you should only lift your teacup to drink. If you are standing then you should hold your teacup in your right hand and saucer in your left, lifting the saucer to hold it beneath the teacup as you drink.