Everything You Need to Know About British Afternoon Tea

Did you know that Britons consume a total of 1.65 millions cups of tea per day? That’s more than twice the amount of coffee consumed! A humble cup of tea plays a significant role in their lives; you need to have an afternoon tea when you are in London to understand why they love it so much. KKday gives you a peek so you know what to expect!

In London, you can get all sorts of tea and grades from commercial brands to the exquisite ones with beautiful packaging. Other than the classics like Earl Grey and English Breakfast, you can find a wide range of other blends too!

Choosing from the wide selection available

Supermarkets carry a wide selection of tea at affordable prices. To find out your personal preference, some places like specialty stores allow you to have a taste of the tea before committing to your choice.

Tea does not only come in the form of tea leaves and tea bags, there’s brewed tea powder too. This means you can enjoy your tea in seconds without having to steep your teabag in freshly boiled water.☕ Fortnum & Mason

Departmental stores like Fortnum & Mason have a trove of tea, pastries and all other sweet treats for the perfect afternoon tea. Their hampers make a great gift for tea lovers too! With the huge assortment, you will definitely find your cup of tea here!What tea without pastries?

British often have their tea with pastries (Photopin)

• Shortbread

 

Walkers Shortbread (Photopin)

Originating from Scotland, Shortbread is a type of traditional butter cookies well-loved by many. Besides the regular rectangular shortbread, Walkers produces special festive-shaped during Christmas too! If you love shortbread, give this buttery goodness from Harrods or Dean’s a try!

•  Scones

Scones, often served with clotted cream and jam (Flickr/ Connie Ma)

Classic British scones are usually eaten with clotted cream and jam. There are different variations depending on where you are located, from the denser to the fluffier ones. The clotted cream adds richness to an otherwise plain pastry. Scones are always seen and served at afternoon tea with other cakes and small bites on a three-tier stand.

Add jam to enhance the taste

Jam often enhance the taste of everything (Photopin)

A generous spread of jam is all you need to compliment the scones with a dollop of clotted cream. If you prefer to have an afternoon tea from the comforts of your home, check out the range of jams from Tiptree, Bonne Maman and Hartleys! For a healthier range of “no added sugar” jam, try the Orange or Lemon Peel. All of the above can be found on the shelves of the regular supermarkets in London.

Lastly, remember to check out the homemade jams at the farmer’s market if you have the chance to visit one. You gotta give the Sweet Chilli savoury jam a try if you see it!

That’s our British afternoon special. Tempted to fly over to London for a tea session and more? You will need these:

>> One stop Hop-on attraction
>> Fancy some English Afternoon Tea?
>> Leave the hustle and bustle for the outskirts of London