afternoon
Tea Tea-time facts • Afternoon tea reportedly originates from the 1840s when Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, complained of having ‘that sinking feeling’ midafternoon. • It became popular in the days when British people only tended to eat breakfast and a late evening meal. • Afternoon tea is also referred to as ‘low tea’ as it was customary to serve it on low tables in the host’s drawing room. It is quite different from high tea, although these days the boundaries are more blurred. • ‘High tea’ may sound majestic, but it was actually for the lower classes who would have something more substantial to eat later in the day - often replacing their evening meal. This was served on a high dinner table and certainly not in a drawing room. Which tea are you? Blackcurrant Decaf Breakfast Earl Grey English Breakfast Estate Darjeeling Formosa Oolong Jasmine Green Citrus Mint Ginger Raspberry Nectar
Thai High Tea There’s only one thing that gets Blue Tomato more excited than the thought of summer — and that’s the thought of summer being filled with beautiful Thai food. hink of it as food fashion, and at the front of the stylish procession is Mango Tree, parading the arrival of their new afternoon tea selection. Nothing suits a summer’s evening (or the early onslaught of hunger) better than bitesize portions and a warm pot of tea. Oh, how very British of us to say so. Fortunately Thai High Tea takes these British ideals (and love for a good ol’ cuppa) to new, more inventive proportions. The selection of nibbles are served on a tall wicker tray — an authentic touch which makes you long to be sat in a matching hut somewhere in Thailand. We aren’t quite that lucky unfortunately (damn crunch), but thankfully this longing for authenticity was subdued by the food on offer. Each platter — which is £15 a head — consists of vegetable spring rolls, chicken crisps, aubergine cups (a Blue Tomato favourite), raw cuts of tuna on toasted bread, mini madeleines and three — yes three — pieces of banana cake. However, we would have been happy with bread and butter as long as it came served with their chocolate glazed coconut and caramel sauce — a side so sweet and creamy that it’s difficult not to dip your fingers in (we didn’t as we want to be invited back...) Afternoon tea is served from 3pm - 5:30pm, Monday - Friday. Mango Tree, 46 Grosvenor Place, SW1 020 7823 1888
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“What better way to spend the afternoon than nibbling authentic Thai bites and drinking exotic teas!” Jimmy Choo “I would dip anything in that coconut and caramel sauce” Gabrielle (so would we, so would we!) “I could eat the banana cake for the rest of my life and be happy” Beverley Knight
Advertise: 020 7936 9030 www.bluetomato.co.uk www.bluetomato.co.uk Afternoon Tea
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