I’m constantly finding new things that bring me joy, and one of my latest obsessions is Afternoon Tea. I love the ceremony aspect of it, as well as the mix of sweet and savory treats, and, of course, the delicious tea!
While people have been drinking tea for hundreds of years both in China and England, afternoon tea was not popularized until the 19th Century. Anna, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford, often grew hungry between lunch and dinner, as dinner was not served until much later in the evening. The Duchess requested a variety of tea, bread, butter, and cakes to be brought to her around 4pm. As time went on, she started inviting her friends and the concept of this midday break grew more popular. By the year 1880, this break in the day for tea was an event for all upper class ladies, dressed in their finery and tea served between 4-5pm, typically in the family or drawing room. Traditional afternoon tea is served with loose leaf tea, delicate finger sandwiches, pastries, and scones and clotted cream and jam.
High tea and afternoon tea are often confused, but they have distinct origins and traditions. Afternoon tea was born as an upper-class social gathering. In contrast, high tea originated as a working-class tradition that includes a heartier meal alongside the ever-present tea. Another key difference is timing—afternoon tea is typically served around 4-5 PM and consists of light snacks, while high tea is usually served between 6-7 pm. But why the name, high tea? It comes from the height of the table. Afternoon tea was served on low tables in the parlor, and high tea was served on high dining tables.
The concept of afternoon tea was not part of my childhood in Honduras, but I have grown to love its sweet mix of tradition and conviviality. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to find the best afternoon tea in all of the land! (The land of Charlottesville, anyway.) Unsurprisingly, there are not a lot of places in Central Virginia that offer afternoon tea. I wanted the whole fancy experience I’ve seen in movies following some of my favorite instagram accounts. I wanted to wear my poofiest dress and gather around with all my friends and have a whole meal of finger sandwiches and sweet treats.
Well you know what they say- if you want something done well, you gotta do it yourself. Luckily, my business is focused on everything food related, and with my birthday approaching, I declared to anyone who would listen, I will have… a grown-up tea party!!
The great thing about our area is the ability to thrift good-quality stuff. And so off I went! I wrote a list of everything I hoped to manifest at our local thrift shops: saucers, teacups, teapots, plates, even champagne glasses (for just-in-case mimosas!) Over the next few weeks, I scored matching sets of cups and plates, cute and funky teapots, and decor items to bring the whole tea party together. I had my graphic designer make adorable invitations and arranged for some beautiful flower bouquets.
I whipped up dainty sandwiches–cucumber, dill and cream cheese, curried chicken salad, egg salad, honey-roasted turkey and English cheddar–all with crusts removed and cut into a variety of shapes. For sweets, we enjoyed miniature scones, lavender-scented cookies, brownie bites, fairy-dusted cupcakes, you name it. I bought a variety of teas and an electric kettle to quickly heat the water. We used three tiered stands and votives with fresh flowers to give us a springtime vibe. With greenery on the walls, a lovely balloon arch, and a “Lets Partea” banner hung, everything looked spectacular. My guests arrived in their Bridgerton best, and I greeted each one with dainty flowered headbands so we could live out our fairy goddess dreams.
While the tea eventually turned into mimosas (thankful for those thrifted champagne flutes!) I had the most magical and amazing day ever. The vibe was so ethereal and springtime—just like I envisioned. My friends and I got to dress up, feel gorgeous, and catch up over food and drinks.
If you’re looking to host your own picture-perfect tea party, let C-ville Bites help bring your vision to life! Whether it’s an elegant afternoon tea or a boozy private brunch, I can help you create the ultimate gathering with delicious treats, gorgeous setups, and, of course, the perfect tea (or cocktails). Let’s make your tea party dreams come true!
