August 14 starts Afternoon Tea Week and I am so excited! During this special week, tea sippers world-wide will express their love for tea by paying homage to the British tradition of Afternoon Tea. I have so many ideas of how I want to participate that I have become a bit indecisive; I guess I can start with the most obvious way to participate: slow down and have a pot of tea during an afternoon pause.
In this article, I share a little history behind the British tradition of Afternoon Tea and various ways that I intend to try to participate in Afternoon Tea Week. Also, do not forget to SUBSCRIBE to Tea End Blog to be automatically entered in Tea End Blog Give-Aways. Already subscribed? Tell a friend!
What Is Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon Tea is a British food tradition made popular in the 19th century thanks to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford in which tea, sandwiches, cones and cakes were served to fill in the long gap between lunch and dinner. Afternoon Tea is served around 4 p.m and is a tradition still practiced amongst the Brits today.
This tradition is sometimes confused with another British tradition called High Tea and rightly so as they are very similar. The difference between the two depended on your rank. The working class could not afford to stop their work day to have Afternoon Tea but needed sustenance after a day of hard labor. An after-work meal was often prepared including a strong pot of tea, hence the birth of High Tea.
How Will I Participate In Afternoon Tea Week?
I have quite a few things in mind so I may or may not get to do all of them. Obviously, I would like to have Afternoon Tea at least one day this week. I am always sipping tea, but it is rare that I intentionally sit down to just eat my lunch and sip tea without busying myself with other tasks. I found a quaint patisserie here in Dallas, TX called Potpourri of Silk. It seems to be a perfect spot to grab a good pot of tea, some sandwiches and cakes; it's not far from my house either!
My sister and her husband just recently visited Canada and to find me a gift she entered a charming book store in Montreal. She purchased a small handbook on table etiquette entitled “Emily Post on Entertaining” by Elizabeth L. Post. On page 84, the book outlines how to set a tea table and gives a little information about Afternoon Tea itself. Perhaps I’ll share this book with you in a Book Review this week.
I was also thinking about performing 2 Give-Aways! Why not! I have two beautiful Gracie Tea Cups that need a new home and what better week to find one than Afternoon Tea Week? Make sure you are subscribed as being subscribed will automatically enter you to win!
Let me know if you have any suggestions for me regarding participating in Afternoon Tea Week. Whatever it is that I decide to do, I am sure that if it includes tea then I will enjoy it.
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What are your plans for Afternoon Tea Week?