It all started in 1840, when Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, couldn’t wait for the traditional 8 pm meal, so she started having afternoon tea and sweets at 4 o’clock.
Since my mother bought me my first Royal Albert china cup and saucer and taught me how to make a hot milk cake, I have been hooked on tea parties of all sizes and reasons.
Over the years, I have enjoyed inviting special guests for afternoon tea, but I serve tea at two not four. I’ve served afternoon tea to celebrate Valentine’s Day or for my birthday, and any other reason I can conjure up. My idea came from the Empress Hotel in Victoria and backed up by the afternoon teas at Butchart’s Gardens. They both call it High Tea, but English friends tell me High Tea is a labourer’s meal and hardier than Afternoon Tea.
My menu is fashioned on the traditional Afternoon Tea.
First, scones. My recipe comes from the Best of Bridge Cookbook. In early days I ignored the lemon zest. What possible difference could that make? Oh! Now I know. It’s another little piece of magic designed by God to make your palette sing!
Add clotted cream (you can find it in the dairy case of your favourite grocery store) and if my husband has made jam recently, I add that. Otherwise, store bought strawberry (the world’s favourite type of jam) or raspberry jam (my favourite) gives a nice finishing touch.
Next course: Finger sandwiches such as egg salad, ham or salmon. I add a plate of fruit for the health conscious.
Then there are the sweet sweets – lemon tarts, a piece of cake, or a selection of cookies.
I make a simpler version for my granddaughter and great granddaughter. We have tea and scones with lots of jam. It’s our special time!
There is some kind of magic that comes from a steamy freshly brewed cup of tea that calms and soothes the most traumatic situations for the drinker. Of course, there are scientific explanations for that, but I like the word ‘magic’.
It was Sunday afternoon. My partner and I had a terrible fight. I fled in the car. I found myself in the driveway of my publisher (yes, even back in the 70’s, I had a newspaper column) who always seemed to know the right things to say to boost my spirits. When she saw me in tears at her front door, she pulled me inside and told me she was going to make us tea.
“You will feel so much better after tea and a talk.” And she was right. I learned something very important that day about tea. The memory and magic of having a cup a tea, a listening ear, and accepting the wisdom of a friend’s words are still with me today.
For the last few years, I have a special afternoon that is booked on-going with a dear friend. We drink tea all afternoon!
Her husband travels through London for his work and my friend and I appreciate the Harrod’s tea box he brings home. Afternoon Ceylon, English Breakfast, and Knightsbridge Blend are some of the selections in the box.
Each week a part of the tea magic is to pick the tea we will feast upon.
Now it’s time for me to put a fancy tablecloth on my dining room table, add a bouquet of daffodils and pull out the good china cups while I wait for the kettle to boil. I can smell the aroma of freshly baked scones. Teatime is about to start. Won’t you join me?
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Laurie Mueller, M.Ed is retired and living in Victoria with her husband, Helmuth. She recently published The Ultimate Guide on What to Do When Someone You Love Dies, available on Amazon. More about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemconsulting.com or on Facebook.