Afternoon Tea in the Lake District

So it’s about time to find out where afternoon tea originates from and how it compares to afternoon tea these days.

Afternoon tea is thought to have originated in England in the 1840’s. At that time, the different classes of people had a divergence of eating habits with the upper classes eating lunch at midday and dinner at 8pm or later. The lower classes ate lunch at about 11am and then a light supper at 7pm. Afternoon tea therefore filled the gap in between those two meals. It proved popular and soon spread throughout the British Empire.

This tradition became less popular as changes in social customs and working hours meant that people didn’t have time to stop for afternoon tea or simply took smaller snacks in the afternoon instead.

Tea was traditionally brewed as loose tea leaves in a teapot and served with milk and sugar.

This provided a welcome pick-me-up for the hard-working lower classes that needed the sugar and caffeine to get them through the day. A small sandwich or scone was often eaten too, especially by labourers. This was often prepared for them in the mornings before they headed off to work.

For the more privileged, afternoon tea included sandwiches with fillings such as cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste, ham or smoked salmon, as well as scones with jam and cream, cakes and pastries such as Battenberg, fruit cake or Victoria sponge.

There aren’t many better locations to take afternoon tea than the Lake District. The quintessential experience of afternoon tea in the Lake District can be enjoyed is various stunning Lake District Hotels throughout the county.

The relaxing atmosphere in Lake District hotels makes them the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea. Choose from the cosy atmosphere of the lounges with their roaring fires where it is a wonderful spot to indulge in a luxury afternoon tea during the winter months. Or in the warmer months Lake District hotels with conservatory’s or gardens are a bright alternative with beautiful surroundings to look at whilst you are eating.