"Victorian England's most civilised institution: finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, pastries on a silver tier and Darjeeling tea at 4 p.m."
About Afternoon Tea
Victorian England's greatest social invention — finger sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, egg and cress), plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam (cream first in Devon, jam first in Cornwall — a genuine conflict), and a tier of pastries and cake; served with Darjeeling or Assam at 4 p.m.; the Ritz, Claridge's and The Savoy set the gold standard.
Afternoon Tea — a staple of United Kingdom's cuisine
Victorian England's greatest social invention: cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon sandwiches, egg and cress sandwiches (crusts removed, cut into triangles), plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and a tier of miniature pastries and cakes. Served with Darjeeling or Assam at exactly 4 p.m.
Cream first or jam first. This is a genuine cultural conflict between Devon (cream first) and Cornwall (jam first). The rest of England does not have a consistent position. The Ritz serves cream first.
What to Expect
Afternoon tea at The Ritz arrives over two hours. The sandwiches are served first, then the scones (warm), then the pastries. The tea is poured without asking — it's Darjeeling and the milk goes in last.
Why Try It
Afternoon tea is the meal that says the most about English food culture's relationship with occasion and ceremony — a daily ritual elevated to an art form.
Insider Tips
The Ritz, Claridge's and The Savoy are the three addresses. Book weeks ahead.
Cream then jam is the Ritz method and therefore the correct method.
Order a pot per person rather than sharing — the tea runs out faster than you expect.
