Afternoon Tea – What Tea Should I Choose?
This quintessentially English tradition dates back to the 19th century when the 7th Duchess of Bradford, Anna, made it fashionable to enjoy tea and cakes in the afternoon, after experiencing a sinking feeling after lunch and before dinnertime. Now afternoon tea is enjoyed daily throughout the world in beautiful tea rooms, restaurants and hotels, but the question is; what tea should you pair with your delicate cakes and dainty sandwiches?
How Many Teas Are There in The World?
There are around 20,000 variations of tea in the world, each with its own unique flavour and medicinal properties, and can be categorised into the following tea groups:
Floral Tea
Floral tea when combined with a selection of sweet pastries, cakes and jams helps to cleanse the palette so is a great choice for afternoon tea. We recommend choosing a delicate flavour such as camomile tea, mint, lavender or perhaps a jasmine tea which will cut through the sweetness of a slice of cake and provide a refreshing taste.
Green Tea
Some may argue that floral teas should be considered green tea, but we believe the term green tea brings the unique taste and colour of a traditional cup of green tea to mind and not the floral combinations of rose, mixed berry or hibiscus. Green tea offers powerful medicinal benefits and in its purest form, Matcha Tea, a powdered form of green tea, is enjoyed across Asia and especially in Japan. It is one of the most expensive teas in the world but has remarkable health benefits. In fact, Matcha tea is thought to have cancer-fighting effects as it is high in a catechin called EGCG. Matcha tea is also believed to help prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and help to speed up the metabolism. So why not pair your afternoon tea with a powerful and medicinal green tea.
Black Tea
Oolong tea, Earl Grey and traditional English Breakfast tea are all considered to be black teas. Black tea is one of the most popular teas consumed in the world and has a strong flavour and contains the most caffeine. Black tea can also be beneficial for your health and can help to reduce inflammation. It contains antioxidants. When enjoying afternoon tea, sweet or savoury, you can’t go wrong with a cup of Earl Grey tea.
White Tea
It’s important to note that tea comes from the same plant, and should not be confused with herbal fresh tea infusions such as rosemary tea, parsley tea or lavender tea, which are simply picked and added to hot water for a herbal drink. All tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant and depending on when the leaves are harvested, determines the type of tea that is made. White tea is a delicate variation and is picked before the leaves of the plant fully open. The young buds on the Camellia Sinensis plant are young and covered in white hairs, hence the name White tea. This tea is delicately flavoured and is enjoyed either on its own, or with a traditional cream tea or sweet afternoon tea.
What Tea is Best for a Cream Tea?
A traditional cream tea includes a combination of scones, clotted cream and a variety of jams. This particular version of afternoon tea originated in Devon and Cornwall in the south of England and can now be enjoyed across the globe. Freshly baked scones and clotted cream requires a certain type of tea in order to relieve that heavy feeling after indulging in a little too much. We believe the best tea for cream tea is Darjeeling, a white tea which offers a subtle flavour and will compliment sponge cakes and scones and not overpower their creamy flavour.
Where to have Afternoon Tea in London?
You can’t visit London without experiencing afternoon tea and there are plenty of beautiful tea rooms to choose from. We have had the pleasure of experiencing afternoon tea at The Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong, and Thomas’s at the classic Burberry in London. You can read more about both afternoon tea offerings below:
