Afternoon Tea Is Back (Although Not With Blooming Tea Yet!)

Posted under Blooming Tea by Jenna

Unbelievably, there’s been a global resurgence of afternoon teas with young girls just as likely to indulge as older women.  While blooming tea may not be on the menu just yet, it surely is only a matter of time before every tea party will be oohing and aahing over the gorgeous blooming tea balls as they unfurl.

 

Celebrities like Lily Allen, Kate Moss and Sienna Millar have taken to afternoon teas in a big way.  And for many younger girls, afternoon tea offers a safer and cheaper way to meet up with friends.  I’m sure afternoon tea would get the thumbs up from parents as a suitable place for their teenagers to meet up.

Ye, the afternoon tea, complete with knitted tea cozy, cucumber sandwiches and delicious little cakes (just like mum used to make), stacked on layered cake stands are back big time.

Traditional afternoon tea used to be a starchy affair, really only available in the larger hotels.  I remember trying to find a place to take my grandmother for her birthday celebration many years ago, and there just wasn’t much choice at all.  These days though, there are cafes and specialist tea shops everywhere offering set menu afternoon teas.  I have yet to see any café offer blooming tea though and I’m sure one day blooming tea will become all the rage.

Afternoon tea comes from Victorian Britian (early 1800s) where the Duchess of Bedford was credited with the ‘invention’.  In those days there were generally just two meals a day – a late breakfast and a late dinner.  The story goes that one day the Duchess of Bedford had a “sinking feeling”, which we would probably attribute to hunger.  She invited some friends around for tea (I suspect not blooming tea in those days) and refreshments about 3pm and served these at low casual tables (rather than the high tables for the evening meal).  Obviously this was a success as this, apparently,was how afternoon tea came about.  Well, if it’s good enough for high society, I guess it’s good enough for the rest of us!

Start a Trend And Get a Blooming Tea Party

One of the main differences between then and now though is that the young girls dress up in their vintage finery and attend a café or hotel, pretending to be Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  If only it was that easy.  Why not start a trend with your friends and get a blooming tea party together!

Tags: afternoon tea, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, cucumber sandwiches and delicious cakes, Kate Moss, Lily Allen