9 Nice addresses for a successful High Tea

A pleasant afternoon catching up with friends around a table filled with sweets, savory snacks and a cup of tea. According to legend, it is thanks to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, that afternoon tea has become a beloved tea ritual in England.

The British are known for their tea and that traditional afternoon tea has a whole history that precedes it, which I would like to tell you more about today!

The Duchess of Bedford

In the 1840s, only two meals a day were eaten. Early in the morning and then only around 8 pm. So there was a lot of time between these two meals.

According to history, it was Duchess Anna who suddenly felt like something delicious between breakfast and dinner. She therefore asked her servants to prepare some snacks. And that was not a one-time event, it became a tradition to satisfy hunger with delicious snacks in the afternoon.

When Anna received visitors in the afternoon, she also served these snacks to her guests and that is how afternoon tea was born. It became a favorite pastime of the elite.

The difference between afternoon tea and high tea

We have now talked about afternoon tea, but the term high tea is also often used.

These are not synonyms, in fact there is an important difference between the two.

Tea was drunk by both the rich and the poorer class. Afternoon tea was mainly a social event for the upper class, which took place around 4 o'clock.

Because workers had a different daily schedule, they ate a light snack when they came home from work around 6 o'clock. This evening meal is a high tea. A high tea consisted mainly of bread, vegetables, cheese, sometimes meat and fish, sandwiches, potatoes, crackers and a cup of tea.

The name high tea comes from the high chairs on which the workers sat, this meal was usually consumed at the table. At the afternoon tea, on the other hand, the elite sat on low lounge chairs or sofas, which is why the afternoon tea is sometimes also called low tea.

All the goodies of the afternoon tea

An afternoon tea traditionally consists of a three-storey étagère. The dishes are served from savory to sweet and there is a certain order in the floors:

• Bottom floor: here you will find sandwiches (which are sandwiches without crust) and all kinds of wraps. The sandwiches are topped with smoked salmon, cucumber, ham and mustard (...)
• In the middle: the savory snacks, often also scones with clotted cream and jam.
• Top floor: the sweets, such as pastries and cakes.

You start with the bottom floor and end with the sweet snacks, just like you would eat a starter, main course and dessert in a restaurant! Every afternoon tea is different, so there are many other formulas (such as an extra glass of champagne with the snacks).

These snacks are of course accompanied by different types of tea. The tea is served in a large pot, so you can enjoy several cups together.

Afternoon tea in 2019

Addresses in London

For the real afternoon tea you have to be in London, where various hotels and restaurants serve it all day long. It is best to book in advance because the places are usually limited.

There are so many great places in London, but these are some of my favourites:

• The Bloomsbury hotel - a classic afternoon tea with traditional snacks.
• Millennium hotel - not a classic afternoon tea but one with a Chinese twist (think dim sums, and a glass of champagne).
• Brown's hotel , The English Tea Room - a permanent fixture, Queen Victoria even passed by. Here you will discover a delicious afternoon tea in a pleasant setting.
• The Ritz - looking for pure luxury? In The Ritz you can enjoy your cup of tea in an impressive interior. Golden details, a large dome and the many mirrors, in one word: wow! By the way, this is the only hotel in The UK with a certified tea sommelier.

Addresses in Belgium

Don't want to travel to London specifically for afternoon tea? Good news, because even in our small country you can go to various places for such a delicious tea meeting!

• Stonemanor, the British Shop - In Kortenberg you will find The British Shop, a supermarket where you will only find British specialties. Next to the shop there is also a tearoom, where you can enjoy an afternoon tea in the beautiful veranda. Also recommended: English Breakfast!
• Bakkerij Domestic - In the pink salon of Bakkerij Domestic in Antwerp you can enjoy an etagère full of goodies. Pastry chef Sander Goossens makes all the sweets with a lot of passion and love!
• Salon de Thé Claude - At Salon de Thé Claude in Antwerp you can enjoy a Lazy Afternoon Tea, where you discover the best of England. From sandwiches to scones, cakes and even macarons. Seats are limited in the intimate setting, so it's best to reserve a table.
• Hotel Orangerie - Are you visiting Bruges soon? At Hotel Orangerie you can enjoy a delicious traditional afternoon tea. Well worth it!
• Wander Coffee Bar - This new hip bar in Ghent is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended is their delicious matcha cheesecake.

Addresses in the Netherlands

The High Tea is also very popular in the Netherlands. In all major cities such as Amsterdam , The Hague and Utrecht you can enjoy a delicious High Tea. But nowadays you can also enjoy those tasty sweet and savory snacks in combination with tea in the smaller towns and villages.

Do you know any nice addresses in Belgium or far beyond the borders?

Be sure to let me know!

Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem , Alysa Tarrant