The English may be world renowned for talking about the weather but if there's one thing we're better at than complaining about the rain, it's enjoying afternoon tea.
Invented in the 1840s, afternoon tea was originally designed as a mini-meal between lunch and dinner and typically consisted of sandwiches, sweet pastries or cakes, scones with cream and jam and, of course, plenty of tea.
Today, afternoon tea is usually enjoyed as an occasional treat at a restaurant or hotel. But with Afternoon Tea Week upon us, we've decided this is the perfect opportunity to encourage more people to host their own afternoon tea parties at home. So prepare your cake slicer, dust off the best china and read on for our top afternoon tea tips, inspirations and recipes.
The essentials
Afternoon tea should be twee and quintessentially British, so you'll need the following:
A tiered cake stand to display the food and serve as your table's centrepiece
Folded napkins
Chinaware: a teapot, tea cups, cutlery and the aforementioned cake slicer. If you don't already own any, check out your local charity shops, which are often overflowing with such items. And don't worry if they don't match - the more kitsch the better!
Decorations
Decorating your kitchen or dining room is entirely up to you but, when it comes to afternoon tea, why wouldn't you go all out?
All you need to do is dress your table with a tablecloth, ideally one with spots, stripes or a floral pattern, then string up some bunting. Again, spots and stripes are a guaranteed winner here but feel free to experiment with your favourite designs and colours.
Drinks
Most guests will probably opt for English Breakfast tea but offer a large selection to ensure everyone's catered for. Earl Grey, camomile, chai, herbal, fruit and peppermint teas are all perennial favourites.
Make sure you have milk/s, sugar and teaspoons already on the table when your guests arrive so you can pour them a cup as soon as they sit down; this will also allow them to help themselves throughout the afternoon.
Sandwiches
Of course, everybody's here for the sweet treats but that doesn't mean you can neglect the savoury side of afternoon tea.
When making sandwiches, aim for around three different fillings - egg and cress, cucumber and prawn and coronation chicken are all classics of the afternoon tea genre - and be sure to cut them into triangles or slices before serving. You can find some great sandwich ideas here.
For even more savoury variety, sausage rolls and quiches are also sure to please.
Sweets and cakes
It's no exaggeration to say that your tea party will live or die based on the quality of the sugary snacks you serve, so choose your menu carefully. Personally, we'd eat anything that was put in front of us but these Cafe2U-inspired recipes will satisfy even the pickiest treat aficionado.
Espresso brownies
Just because it's a tea party doesn't mean there's no room for coffee! These caffeinated delights are rich, decadent and best enjoyed with good company and a hot drink.
Earl Grey teacakes
For a fancy twist on an old favourite, why not pick up some Earl Grey tea from your nearest Cafe2U mobile cafe and add it to the recipe for a unique flavour your guests will love? Check out the recipe here.
Coffee cake
Coffee cake has been among the UK's most popular cakes for decades and it's not hard to understand why. This one is delicious and easy to make using any number of our special Cafe2U coffee blends. Every party needs a cake so what are you waiting for?!
Scones
It's all been leading up to this. Regardless of how you pronounce the word 'scone'. Regardless of whether you put the jam or the cream on first. No afternoon tea party is complete without scones.
Remember to serve warm with plenty of clotted cream, jam and room-temperature butter on the table so your guests can help themselves. Strawberry is the most popular jam flavour at afternoon tea but don't be afraid to offer a broader selection if you see fit.
This classic scone recipe is easy to follow and serves eight people; if you prefer a fruit scone, we recommend giving this recipe a try.
Whatever sort of afternoon tea party you throw, your nearest Cafe2U van is always on hand to keep your cupboards fully stocked with all the teas and coffees you'll need. Find your nearest van here.