Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea. Having afternoon tea in the British capital should be a proper ritual. According to www.historic-uk.com

“Afternoon tea, that most quintessential of English customs is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and was popularised in England during the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza, it was not until the mid-19th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ first appeared.

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner.

The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread, and butter (sometime earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had had the idea of putting a filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880’s upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock.” More

Indulge in a slice of one of the finest British traditions and take Afternoon Tea at The Ritz London. Enjoy a selection of finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and a mouth-watering range of exquisitely presented pastries and teacakes, which will be replenished on request whilst dining in The Palm Court.

This most charming traditional Afternoon Tea in Mayfair is served in the spectacular Palm Court, with glittering chandeliers and elegant mirrors, which add a light and stylish flourish to the room. The Ritz London is the only hotel in the UK to have a certified Tea Sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu, who travels around the world to various tea plantations to source our wonderful teas.

The elegant ambiance is complemented by a musical ensemble from the resident pianist and harpist – the final ingredient to ensure your Afternoon Tea at The Ritz, is quite simply, unforgettable. Afternoon Tea is served daily at 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm, 5.30 pm, and 7.30 pm. Priced at £61 for adults and £40 for children.