The words ‘afternoon tea’; what does this conjure up in your mind? I was trying to explain what ‘I do’ (today we seem to be defined by how we make our money, or our jobs rather than just being). I often find the response is slight incredulity, then a smile and then a dreamy look as they say ah yes, afternoon tea.
What is it that is signified by these words? There seems to be a potent magical message so all I can do is perhaps list the words in my mind that are conjured up by the magical words, afternoon tea or a tea party. They are in no particular order.
1. Jane Mansfield’s ‘The Garden Party’. A collection of short stories providing a pinprick of social nuances.
2. Having tea with Mrs L-C when about 10 or 11 to collect our new puppy. The sandwiches were round, each one cut round a single slice of cucumber.
3. Tea after school, aged 8 or 9 with the Ds. Mrs D made the most fantastic chocolate cakes and I would always eat at least 3 or 4 slices.
4. Tea in south west Scotland; visiting some friends on a beautiful sunny day, spending an hour walking around the garden admiring the rampant and wonderful herbaceous borders. Going back into the semi gloom of the house and being offered ‘China or Indian’. And the tea just tasted wonderful served in very old thin porcelain cups and saucers, that distinct black china tea taste.
5. Deepest winter sitting in a small study toasting muffins in front of fire with a toasting fork. Spreading then thickly with salted butter that melts and then you eat them, the butter dribbling down your chin. This is a totally fictional image that I have only read about but in my mind's eye I have lived the dream.
6. Going to tea with an American girl when about 17 in a mansion flat in Knightsbridge. She was sitting behind a vast silver teapot and there were three of us English girls sitting there on a big sofa making polite conversation.
7. Tomato sandwiches. Made with thin brown bread and butter, the tomatoes cut thinly and sprinkled with salt, crusts off and cut into triangles.
8. Mid teens, lying on the grass after playing croquet on a hot day and trying iced coffee for the first time. It seemed such a sophisticated drink.
9. Jelly! Tea parties with jelly, an absolute must for a children’s tea party. But perhaps it doesn't exist any more. Is everyone too sophisticated?
Perhaps a bit of social history soon as I have to do quite a bit of research for some lectures in September in Japan. One will be a detailed view of tea drinking in the 17th century across Eruope and why it should have become so embedded into English culture as opposed to other European countries.
The other is on low fat afternoon tea food, which may be a slight contradiction. I wonder if dry bread and black tea is out of the question?
3. Tea after school, aged 8 or 9 with the Ds. Mrs D made the most fantastic chocolate cakes and I would always eat at least 3 or 4 slices.
4. Tea in south west Scotland; visiting some friends on a beautiful sunny day, spending an hour walking around the garden admiring the rampant and wonderful herbaceous borders. Going back into the semi gloom of the house and being offered ‘China or Indian’. And the tea just tasted wonderful served in very old thin porcelain cups and saucers, that distinct black china tea taste.
5. Deepest winter sitting in a small study toasting muffins in front of fire with a toasting fork. Spreading then thickly with salted butter that melts and then you eat them, the butter dribbling down your chin. This is a totally fictional image that I have only read about but in my mind's eye I have lived the dream.
6. Going to tea with an American girl when about 17 in a mansion flat in Knightsbridge. She was sitting behind a vast silver teapot and there were three of us English girls sitting there on a big sofa making polite conversation.
7. Tomato sandwiches. Made with thin brown bread and butter, the tomatoes cut thinly and sprinkled with salt, crusts off and cut into triangles.
8. Mid teens, lying on the grass after playing croquet on a hot day and trying iced coffee for the first time. It seemed such a sophisticated drink.
9. Jelly! Tea parties with jelly, an absolute must for a children’s tea party. But perhaps it doesn't exist any more. Is everyone too sophisticated?
Perhaps a bit of social history soon as I have to do quite a bit of research for some lectures in September in Japan. One will be a detailed view of tea drinking in the 17th century across Eruope and why it should have become so embedded into English culture as opposed to other European countries.
The other is on low fat afternoon tea food, which may be a slight contradiction. I wonder if dry bread and black tea is out of the question?
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