FOOD + DRINK
A GAME OF
SCONES
WE ENGLISH MIGHT BE MOST FAMOUS FOR ONE THING , AND THAT , OF COURSE , IS OUR LOVE OF TEA . POSSIBLY THE MOST NOTORIOUS OF BRITISH TRADITIONS , IT WOULD APPEAR THAT ALMOST ANYTHING CAN BE SOLVED OVER A POT OF TEA . AS THE PERFECT REMEDY FOR BAD DAYS , THE QUINTESSENTIALLY BRITISH CELEBRATION FOR HAPPY DAYS , AND ENGLAND ’ S GO-TO THIRST QUENCHER FOR ALL THE DAYS IN-BETWEEN , PERHAPS THE ONLY THING BETTER IS WHEN IT ’ S SERVED UP ALONGSIDE SCONES , JAM , A SPOT OF CREAM , AND MOREISH FINGER SANDWICHES ! SO COME WITH US AS JESS MARSHALL EXPLORES THE EXCEPTIONAL AFTERNOON TEAS THAT CAN BE FOUND AROUND THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND , FROM FANCY TEA ROOMS TO ORNATE CASTLES AND LOCAL CAFES , THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF WONDERFUL PLACES TO POP OUT TO FOR THE ULTIMATE AFTERNOON TREAT THIS SUMMER .
ALICE AND THE HATTER
A Little History
So before we jump into exploring some of the very best spots for afternoon tea in Kent , let ' s delve into the history behind the very British tradition , where its origins stem from , and why it has stood the test of time to become one of the 21st centuries most English past times .
Most people will be shocked to learn the origins of tea drinking do not actually hail from England , but from ancient China , in fact the ritual now so associated with the British did not reach popularity here until the 1660 ’ s when King Charles II and his wife became fans of the golden liquid and popularised the drink among the ruling class . Compared to this , the tradition of afternoon tea is a relatively new pastime for the people of England , becoming popular in the mid-19th century when Anna , the 7th Duchess of Bedford , discovered the delightful pre-dinner snack and it became the fashion among upper-class women . After a few years the idea of afternoon tea slowly started to trickle down to the middle classes and has since become an intricate part of
UK culture , to the point that nowadays you probably couldn ’ t describe a more quintessentially English pastime . With it ' s rising popularity came the rise in tearooms dedicated to providing the people of our small island with the very best afternoon tea in the world . Even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is thought to enjoy this mid afternoon treat on a daily basis , and if it ' s good enough for the Queen it is good enough for us !
So without further ado let us lead you on the trail of the best afternoon teas around ...
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