The British are renowned for stopping everything at mid afternoon each day to enjoy Afternoon Tea.
Often Afternoon Tea and High Tea are used interchangeably. They are very different! "High Tea" is served after 6:00 pm, and is served at a high (dining room) table with varieties of hot or cold meats, vegetables and breads.
Afternoon Tea is lighter and is served mid-afternoon.
Afternoon Tea is the service that comes to mind when we think of a sophisticated British tea. It's the elegant repast served between 2 and 4 pm, consisting of tea with scones, small sandwiches, cakes and other pastries. A Cream Tea means that clotted cream (also called Devonshire Cream) is served, along with the scones and preserves.
Afternoon tea was "invented" by Anna, Duchess of Bedford (1783 - 1857), wife of the 7th Duke, in 1840 as "a way to quell the inevitable hunger pangs between lunch and dinner". In other words, she "got too hungry for dinner at eight…"!
In the 19th century large meaty breakfasts were common and luncheon was a light sort of picnic with no servants present. Dinner was not served until 8 pm, so it is perfectly understandable that the Duchess got a little hungry in the late afternoon.
Traditionally, a formal afternoon tea is performed according to certain rules of etiquette. We will do our utmost at The Gatsby to provide our Afternoon Tea with all of the charm of etiquette of bygone days.
