Afternoon Tea

   For many years I was firm in my dislike of tea.  Just hot water with just enough taste to make you realize it’s bland.  Unfortunately, I think I was basing this on one bad tea experience.  Slowly I came to assent to a cup of black tea with just the right amount of milk and sugar.  This was mostly because of a trip to Spain where I had the perfect cup of English Breakfast Tea.  Odd, I know.  Eventually I came to favor green tea as well, and now I willingly admit to being a tea-drinker.  I tell you this rather insipid chronicle because after today I am an enthusiastic proponent of the English tradition of afternoon tea.  Today we traveled through Kensington Gardens, toured Kensington Palace, and then had an English Orangery Afternoon Tea.

   This included tea (of course) as well as finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and fruit tartlets.  The tea, first of all, was nothing like the kind of tea I’ve had before.  This isn’t tea from a bag but actual tea leaves steeped in our own teapot.  Some of us may have committed a faux pas and started pouring our tea before the waiters handed out the strainers.  Americans!  But it was still delicious.  And the finger foods were very dainty and scrumptious.  Beyond the taste, presentation is a vital part of this lovely tradition.

  Not only do the plate trees make for a nice arrangement, but they save a lot of space.  We each had our own and with everyone having their own teapots, as well, the table was already a bit crowded.  Overall, this experience is one of my favorites so far.  Afternoon tea is an experience steeped in tradition, and delicious to boot.  Cheers!