03/12/2026
Afternoon tea became popular in England in the early 1840s when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, began taking tea with small snacks around 4 PM to bridge the long gap between lunch and a late evening dinner.
What started as a practical solution quickly turned into a daily social ritual among the English upper class.
Traditional afternoon tea included:
• Tea: usually black teas such as Assam, Darjeeling, or Earl Grey
• Served with: milk and sugar
• Food: cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and small cakes
• Presentation: a three-tier tray (sandwiches on the bottom, scones in the middle, pastries on top)
Tea was brewed in porcelain or bone china teapots and poured into matching cups and saucers, often with a milk jug and sugar bowl at the table.
In Victorian society, afternoon tea was also a social occasion, so guests typically dressed in formal daytime attire and gathered for conversation as much as the tea itself.
Today, afternoon tea is still served across Britain and around the world—though the dress code is usually optional.