Category: Tea Rooms

Afternoon Tea.

Last week (10th- 16th August) was Afternoon Tea Week. I’m a bit late with this post, but couldn’t let the occasion pass completely.

Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. It evolved as a little meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal at 8pm.

The tradition of afternoon tea made its way into English literature around a decade after the brew made its way into British drawing rooms in the early seventeenth century. I love this quote from C.S. Lewis:

And of course don’t forget the sandwiches, scones and cake. Especially the cake…

We as a family made a lot of cake over the lockdown period. It was something to do and something to share from a social distance and became quite special to us all.

Here are my two favourite Afternoon Tea pictures from the unprecedented times of 2020.

The Grand Hotel treat after lockdown and VE Day 2020 during lockdown. We did a virtual afternoon tea.

Thomas Oken Tearooms. Our recipies.

A shout out to Thomas Oken Tearooms, Warwick:

http://thomasokentearooms.co.uk/

The tearooms are run by mother and daughter, Jo and Jess. Quintessentially English, it’s menu boasts hearty, warming soups, scrumptious cream teas and cakes, real local ales and a whole host of loose leaf teas served in fine bone china teacups- what other way is there to enjoy a cup of tea? All food is freshly prepared using quality ingredients.

Set against the backdrop of Warwick Castle the Tea Rooms building was by Thomas Oken, Philanthropist and one time Mayor of Warwick. It is a perfect place to recuperate after a castle visit.

They have produced this book in response to the may requests from visitors for the recipes to the food sampled in the tea rooms. Copies are available from the online shop website:

Front cover and a mouthwatering lemon drizzle cake

http://thomasokentearooms.co.uk/on-line-shop/

I’m slowly working my way through the recipes- !