Afternoon Tea

386. Afternoon tea is a simple, light meal composed of three course of tea sandwiches and savories, followed by scones with clotted cream and jam, and ending with sweet pastries. Everything is bite-sized and eaten with fingers.

Afternoon tea time is around 4:00PM,  between lunch and dinner. The light meal is not meant to replace dinner but instead to hold you over until dinner which was usually at 8:00PM for the upper class.

The concept of afternoon tea started in England in the 1840s when The Duchess of Bedford would grow hungry and wanted a small bite between lunch and dinner.

With the new movie following the Downton Abbey Series coming out this past weekend, I found it fitting to enjoy this English tradition.  Rather than make tea sandwiches we rather made cheese and crackers trays with fresh fruits, homemade scones and jam. 

 And of course a variety of teas with the Downton Abbey original soundtrack playing softly in the background.  It was a lovely event shared with 5 lovely young ladies.  And after we enjoyed our afternoon tea we whisked away to the movie theater to watch the delightful Downton Abbey movie.  The movie was all we hoped it would be...a wonderful continuation of this engaging, charming story.  The day was a win-win.

“We must always travel in hope.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 5

“You are being tested. And you know what they say my darling, being tested only makes you stronger.”
— Cora, Lady Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 3

“Sympathy butters no parsnips.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 5

“There is nothing more ill-bred than trying to steal the affections of one’s dog.”
— Robert, Lord Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 5

“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 2

“We must all have our hearts broken once or twice before we’re done.”
— Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey, Season 4