To celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week, which runs from 10th to 16th August, we thought it might be fun to find out a bit more about this national institution and popular past-time!
'Google is your friend, as they say'!....
Wikipedia states that China first exported Green Tea to the UK as far back as 1660 and was sold through the fashionable Coffee Houses of London. Tea was mainly drunk by the upper classes back then and was probably most influential was Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II. She used it as a court beverage and influenced its popularity in literary circles too. By the early 1700's, The British East India Company showed a huge increase of imports of tea to the UK.... the taste was taking off!
A fascinating written instruction by valet of Baron Herbert of London explains how to achieve the perfect cuppa......
'A quart of spoing water just boiled, to which put a spoonful of tea and sweeten to palate with sugar candy. As soon as the tea and sugar are in, the steam must be kept in as much as maybe, and let it lie for half or quarter of an hour in the heat of the fire but not boil. The little cups must be held over the steam before the liquid be put in'..... What a revelation it must have been when the teabag was first invented!
With this new tea drinking era so came the demand for porcelain. Tea cups, pots and saucers were all required to accompany this new fad... But would it last? ... It certainly would and now we are known the world over for our love of drinking the tea!
The Afternoon Tea came about when the Duchess of Bedford in around 1800 came up with the idea of a mid afternoon snack to ward off her hunger. At that time it was the norm to eat only breakfast with dinner being served at the earliest 8pm... so quite a long while in-between.
There are many variations on the Afternoon Tea front.. we have Cream Teas consisting of just Tea and Scones. Low Tea otherwise known as Traditional Afternoon Tea would include sandwiches and pastries plus the scones. Interestingly the term Low Tea comes from the tables and chairs at which you sat to eat... low! High Tea was traditionally taken by the working classes as their evening meal at around 6.00pm. This would always include meat and potatoes. Last but not least we have the Royale Tea, for this you would be served a glass of champagne at the beginning or a glass of Sherry at the end... So basically all points were covered with this one meal option.
So moving on to now.. it is no surprise really that the Afternoon Tea love affair has not dwindled, in fact it is positively booming and we use it in so many situations..... to cool us down when it is hot, in a shock situation and when a good old chin wag with friends is needed.... So many times do you hear 'fancy a cuppa... I will pop the kettle on'! Its popularity have now even moved to celebrations of hen parties, Baby showers and even full wedding days. Here at the hotel we have a specific wedding packaged all based around the 'Grand Afternoon Tea' to book.
We think Tea at the Grand is about as traditional as you can get.. Stunning surroundings of the Great Hall and still served on sparkling silver tea stands, you could be forgiven into thinking you had gone back in time. Every last Sunday of the month you almost literally do when our teas are served to the dulcet tones of Shelley van Loen and her Palm Court String Orchestra.. we like to call it our 'Titanic' musical event.
Our Pastry Chef, Carlos, prides himself on his delicate and beautiful selection of mini cakes and pastries, which Chef Mitchell provides the all important sandwiches, with crusts off of course!..Tradition all the way so cucumber it is! During the month of December we switch to a wonderful seasonal menu with festive mini mince pies, yule logs and turkey and cranberry sandwiches.
It is great to celebrate this marvelous meal time but you don't have to wait for National Afternoon Tea Week to do it..... Afternoon Tea is served daily between 2.45pm - 6.30pm at the Grand. We even have a special Junior Version for the smaller ones with crackling jelly and Milk shakes! So come along and discover for yourself why 'Everything Stops for Tea'.