Afternoon tea is a classic British institution that dates back to the 1800s and remains a popular pastime for all ages. Whether you’re planning a celebration or just want to savour delicious high tea, this culinary tradition is perfect for all occasions.
Classic afternoon tea features tiered bone china cake stands piled high with cucumber or smoked salmon sandwiches, delicate miniature cakes, and scones topped with jam and clotted cream. Pair with endless cups of tea poured from a vintage teapot and champagne if you’re feeling extra fancy.
If you like the idea of hosting your own teatime treat at home, read on to discover all the ingredients for delicious afternoon tea celebrations.
Laying the foundations
Dorset dining table | @cottagenumbertwo
Our oak and painted dining tables make the perfect backdrop for afternoon tea gatherings. Whether you want to embrace the natural look or add a pretty tablecloth, our tables come in a variety of styles and sizes, including extendable options, that work perfectly if you’re having cream tea for two, or a big afternoon tea party.
Bevel larder | @laurahomeandlifestyle
If you’re planning to whip up some cakes, keep all your baking supplies neatly in one of our larders. Offering endless storage space that also looks stylish, these oak or painted acacia freestanding units are perfect for bringing a touch of homeliness to your kitchen.
Styling your table for afternoon tea
Image: Collecting Seashells
Once you’ve got your table sorted, it’s time to have fun with styling it. We spoke to Tilly Wilson, CEO of online home decor boutique Collecting Seashells, who gave us some top tips for styling a table for afternoon tea.
‘When preparing your table for an afternoon tea party there are a few key essentials that will make your table look divine. Firstly, use a pretty cake stand as the centre piece to show off your cakes and scones. Napkins are definitely a must and placing them in a holder will help keep them looking nice and neat.
‘As well as beautiful china tea cups, I like to add a glass for those who like a bubbly afternoon tea. Finally, I like to finish off the table by adding a splash of colour with some lovely flowers such as pink peonies, which are one of my favourites.’
Image: Collecting Seashells
To recreate the look with pieces from Collecting Seashells, Tilly suggests using the delicately painted bluebell stand which looks fabulous when paired with the matching coasters. ‘If you love the idea of flowers but don’t want to drop petals all over the table, create an arrangement using the faux pink peony spray, and add the scented candle to fill your home with beautiful aromas of fresh peonies.’
What to serve for afternoon tea
Image: Shed 1 Gin Distillery
While we all know that afternoon tea tends to feature dainty sandwiches, scones with lashing of jam and cream, and delicious cakes, we chatted to Zoe Arnold-Bennett, co-founder and owner of Shed 1 Gin Distillery, who shares her unique take on this culinary tradition.
‘My love for all things afternoon tea started from a young age. My mother took me for my first one when I was quite young, and it became a regular thing for us to do. From local tea shops to famous hotels, to this day it evokes memories of good times. Afternoon tea is such a very British tradition and epitomises relaxed indulgence that we all should make time for… particularly when you introduce gin!
‘When we opened Shed 1 Gin Distillery to the public in 2019, it was a perfect opportunity for me to share my love of afternoon tea with our customers. We’re not a run of the mill distillery, so it was obvious from the start that our afternoon teas needed to offer something a bit different, even a bit quirky. So, we decided to incorporate gin and some of the botanicals we use in our range of award-winning gins into our Afternoon G&Teas.
Image: Shed 1 Gin Distillery
‘All of the sweet treats that make up our delicious botanical-inspired afternoon tea are homemade by me at the distillery and I’ve created each one using botanicals found in our gins. Think chocolate, orange and chilli brownies with cardamom buttercream and silver leaf – all the botanicals found in our Chilli Fest Gin. We even give you a little pipette of gin to sprinkle over the orange and lavender cake, and the humble cucumber sandwich gets lifted to another level!’
Zoe shares one of her favourite recipes that you can recreate at home. Enjoy!
We’d love to see how you’ve styled your Oak Furnitureland pieces to create the ultimate afternoon tea. Share your pics by tagging us at #OakFurnitureland on Instagram.
