Afternoon tea — an elegant and quintessentially British tradition. One whose popularity is often credited to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford in the 1840s.
Finding herself increasingly peckish in the late afternoon, Duchess Anna often satisfied her cravings with a tray of tea and light refreshments. Of course, all good things must be shared: not long after, the Duchess began to invite her friends to join her late-afternoon interludes. This quickly progressed into a fashionable social event among the English aristocracy, and the 1880s saw upper-class ladies dressing up in their long gowns, gloves and hats to partake in afternoon tea.
Typically featuring an array of light snacks like scones, finger sandwiches and jams, afternoon tea is usually served on dainty three-tiered tea stands: savoury items on the lower levels, scones and jam in the middle and sweets on the top. Not forgetting the actual tea, of course. Afternoon tea also comes complete with proper etiquette that you should follow, but that’s a whole other story (and no, you shouldn’t stick your pinkie out when sipping your tea!).
Almost two centuries later, it’s safe to say that afternoon tea has come a long way from its British origins, traversing the globe to be enjoyed by those seeking a scrumptious late afternoon indulgence.
Recreate Your Own Afternoon Tea: Classic Scones and Strawberry Jam
At The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, our signature Afternoon Tea features the perfect pairing of sweet and savoury.
Recreate a key element of this experience at home, with our simple Classic Scone and Strawberry Jam recipes from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.
CLASSIC SCONES
Ingredients:
- 680g unbleached all-purpose flour
- 5g salt
- 50g sugar
- 180g butter
- 40g baking powder
- 350g milk
- 1 large egg
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Combine the flour, salt, butter and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Mix ingredients together with a wooden spoon for 10 minutes until the mixture is smooth in consistency.
3. Add the milk and egg. Mix and fold all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon until the mixture turns into dough. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.
4. Roll the dough until it is approximately 1-inch thick.
5. Cut dough into pieces with a round cookie cutter, approximately 2 inches in diameter each.
6. Bake for 12 minutes until golden brown.
7. Cool for at least 30 minutes, then serve the scones with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream and enjoy.
STRAWBERRY JAM
Ingredients:
- 650g strawberries, cut into small pieces
- 350g sugar
- 10g pectin
- 5g lemon juice
Method:
1. Place all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to boil.
2. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes until thick. Cool before serving.
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AFTERNOON TEA AT HOME
Experience The Fullerton's well-loved Afternoon Tea in the comfort of your home. Presented in a beautiful signature three-tier box, perfect as a splendid gift or for sharing with loved ones.