AFTERNOON TEA IN ENGLAND - FORTNUM & MASON

People who know me will tell you I LOVE my TEA!!

 

And as a South African, I especially love my ROOIBOS TEA!! So imagine how excited I was about relocating to England! The HOME OF TEA!! We all know how the ENGLISH LOVE TEA! So as you can guess "MUST GO FOR AFTERNOON TEA WHILST IN ENGLAND" was high up on my 'Bucket List' when I arrived in London. Now I regularly treated myself to a High Tea/Afternoon Tea experience back home in Cape Town, South Africa (especially at the MOUNT NELSON HOTEL - MY FAV), however nothing compares to going out for Afternoon Tea in London.

 

HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA

 

Just to first give you a little history lesson as to the origin of the Afternoon Tea trend. The custom of drinking tea originated in China and was popularised in England in the 1660s by King Charles II and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. However, the concept of 'Afternoon Tea' was only introduced in 1840 by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford.

 

It is said that the Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock (a familiar occurrence for me that's for sure), however the evening meal at her household would only be served at eight o'clock. Long wait right? So what did the Duchess decide to do? She requested that a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake be brought to her room in the late afternoon. She started inviting friends to join her in this ritual, and soon enough Afternoon Tea became so popular amongst high society women that in the 1880s the upper class and society women would actually change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their Afternoon Tea.

 

Although the Afternoon Tea tradition started indoors, once summer arrived the high society ladies decided to move the 'event' into their beautiful gardens. And soon the lords and men of the house stated joining the ladies in this activity.

 

 

 

FORTNUM & MASON

 

I had my very first London Afternoon Tea experience at Fortnum & Mason, an upmarket department store situated in central London established by WILLIAM FORTNUM. William Fortnum was a FOOTMAN in the ROYAL HOUSEHOLD of QUEEN ANNE, but he also had a side business as a GROCER. William convinced his landlord, HUGH MASON, to be his associate and together they founded what we now know as Fortnum and Mason in 1707. In 1761, William's grandson CHARLES went into the service of QUEEN CHARLOTTE and the royal affiliation led to an increase in popularity of the business.

 

In 2007 the store underwent a 24 million pound refurbishment, and in March 2012, HER MAJESTY QUEEN opened the DIAMOND JUBILEE TEA SALON on the FOURTH FLOOR - where the Afternoon Teas are held.

 

The Afternoon Tea experience at Fortnum & Mason was truly elegant and I did feel (at least for the evening) like an 18th century English high society lady (minus the evening gowns, gloves and hats of course- LOL). And the food was both DELICIOUS and in ABUNDANCE! Two important things you want to hear when it comes to food.

 

Here are some of my favourite highlights of my Afternoon Tea experience at Fortnum & Mason in London: