The "Afternoon Tea"

Earlier we wrote a blog about how you can organize the perfect high tea for your guests. But what is the difference between a high tea and an afternoon tea. In this blog you will learn more about the afternoon tea itself and you will get tips on how to prepare the perfect afternoon tea for your guests.

Is it an afternoon tea or a high tea?

Originally from England, the afternoon tea is a tea ceremony consisting of small savory and sweet dishes. Afternoon tea usually takes place around midday between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM and is served at low coffee tables. In addition, there is of course also a high tea. The difference between a high tea and an afternoon tea is that a high tea is an extensive (bread) meal with a warm snack that is served in the evening around dinner time. The English high tea takes place at high dining tables, hence the name 'high tea.' In the Netherlands, these 2 terms are often confused while they have a completely different meaning.

Afternoon tea bites

Just like with a high tea, there are different dishes that go with an afternoon tea. A traditional English afternoon tea consists of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, tarts and cakes. All snacks fit between the thumb and finger. The order of the dishes is also important here, as the dishes are served from savory to sweet. This is done so that the flavors of the dishes are built up. The dishes are served on an etagere, with the sandwiches on the bottom, the scones in the middle and the sweet snacks on top. So you should enjoy 'from bottom to top'. Scones are in between bread and cake in terms of taste and structure and are therefore a good transition between the savory and sweet dishes.

Tea and foodpairing

The tea completes the afternoon tea. Originally, loose tea is served with an afternoon tea. You can choose to serve a different tea per course or let your guests choose the tea themselves. 

To give the dishes extra flavor, a matching tea is needed. For the tea, too, the flavors must be built up slowly. Green tea is perfect for savory dishes such as sandwiches. A green tea that goes with this is the oriental green. Green tea is very versatile and is delicious with fish and chicken dishes, but it also goes well with the fresh combination of the sandwiches.

The best tea, which goes perfectly with semi sweet dishes such as scones, is Darjeeling tea. This is a tea with a light color, floral taste and a wonderful astringent and fresh nutmeg scent. A must for the darjeeling is the "Darjeeling First Flush."
An earl gray tea is best for sweet dishes. A tip from us try the "Traditional Earl Gray." This tea is known for its great aroma and fresh taste. This earl gray tea is a nice combination with dishes that contain citrus fruits and it also goes well with chocolate.

Tea for the occasion

We consider an afternoon tea to be a real party! It suits every occasion and creates a beautiful atmosphere. You have different variations for an afternoon tea, you can combine it with a champagne for a festive start.

Still more in the mood for savory? No problem! Start your afternoon tea with a soup or a quiche. Make your afternoon tea even better with seasonal products. Think of a nice refreshing iced tea mixed with tropical fruit for the summer or a cake with apple and cinnamon in the winter. This way you can customize your afternoon tea to your own liking! 

For more information about the afternoon tea you can always contact us or take a look at our website for many more great blogs, stories and recipes!