1/ Afternoon tea is steeped in history
It is the rich past of the vast British Empire (on which “the sun never set”) that explains the British passion for tea. Their powerful East India Company, which oversaw trade between the Kingdom and its colonies, was the vehicle through which tea leaves first arrived in Europe. In the 18th century, tea became a symbol of the British aristocracy (who quickly embraced it!), before spreading throughout the wider population. Later, tearooms at the end of the 19th century helped popularise “tea time” (British afternoon tea) even further.
2/ Afternoon tea is cultural
From the Queen of England to the working class, the whole of British society embraced tea time as a cherished ritual. “Tea and tea time—the tea break—continue to play an absolutely fundamental role across entire sections of British society,” reports Courrier International. The weekly also recalls how the BBC’s decision to “axe free biscuits and the use of kettles during staff meetings” sparked an outcry. During the 1950s, 1960s, and even 1970s, British offices, companies, and hospitals relied on the services of “tea ladies”, responsible for brewing and serving tea. They have since been replaced by cafeterias...
3/ Afternoon tea is convivial
Of course, you can drink your tea alone at 5 pm, in front of your computer at the office, but it is generally a moment to share. You can invite family, friends, or neighbours without all the fuss of organising and preparing a lunch or dinner, which requires spending much more time in the kitchen. Even better, if you love the idea of sitting back and relaxing, you can head out for afternoon tea at a tearoom or a stylish hotel. Indeed, many London venues have made it their signature speciality.
4/ The simplicity of afternoon tea
Brewing a black tea is simple. Just boil some water, then let the tea leaves steep for the time indicated on the tin (3 to 4 minutes on average). For an afternoon tea true to British tradition, opt for a black tea, often grown in former colonies such as India or Sri Lanka: organic Earl Grey tea, flavoured with bergamot; organic Ceylon tea, with its round, chocolatey notes; or organic Darjeeling tea, harvested on the Himalayan foothills. To help you choose the finest blends, Kusmi offers a tea-time gift set featuring 5 indulgent miniature tins and an optional tea infuser spoon.
5/ Afternoon tea is an indulgent treat.
Can you have biscuits with tea? Of course—what is the point of a cup of tea if you cannot dunk anything in it?! But what should you eat with tea? We have saved the best for last: here are the finest biscuits and pastries to enjoy with a cup of tea. In British tradition, scones are served—small baked treats of Scottish origin enjoyed with jam. But you can also opt for toast, muffins, crumpets (thick, spongy griddle cakes) or other bakes such as Battenberg cake (made with sponge cake and marzipan), shortbread (or millionaires' shortbread layered with caramel and chocolate), and Victoria sponge, named in honour of Queen Victoria as it was her favourite cake. Fancy adding a French touch? Pair your tea with macarons, financiers or madeleines. Finally, there is always the savoury option: the British are devoted to little crustless finger sandwiches filled with cucumber, egg mayonnaise or cress.
And for guilt-free afternoon tea indulgence, explore our indulgent teas and herbal infusions. The most comforting? Our organic herbal tea with biscuit notes: Sweet Break.
