Afternoon tea is an oh-so-British tradition which dates back to the seventh century. Reportedly, the Duchess of Bedford decided to solve her mid-afternoon slump with a light refreshment and a walk with her pals to see her through to dinnertime. This soon grew into a fashionable occasion for the upper classes to meet and gossip, with the array of food on offer reaching elaborate heights. Sadly, nowadays this tradition is limited to special occasions rather than a daily afternoon pick-me-up, but it is nonetheless one of the most internationally recognised British customs (although we probably don’t enjoy it as frequently as those around the world might think).
To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week, we’ve put together an assortment of recipes that would make the Duchess of Bedford proud, complete with cucumber sandwiches and all the trimmings. And if you have a special occasion coming up or just feel like spoiling yourself, we’ve included some of our favourite restaurants serving the finest afternoon tea selections.