How to create the perfect afternoon tea
Ensure to brew your tea properly. I would recommend using speciality loose leaf tea as it not only enhances the flavour but also the overall experience.
Brewing time should be no longer than between three to five minutes, so as to avoid damaging the delicate flavour of the tea.
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I always think it’s nice to provide a variety of teas - Earl Grey, peppermint, chamomile, fruit, herbal and, of course, English Breakfast.
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If you fancy a wee tipple with your afternoon tea, why not try eteaket’s Gin tea with a touch of Harris Gin or, for whisky lovers, eteaket’s brand new whisky barrel aged black tea is delicious topped with a dash of Tomatin whisky.
If you can, serve you tea in a glass or china pot as this won’t react with the flavours – it also makes your afternoon tea set look all the more instagrammable.
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If it’s a particularly hot day outside, why not serve iced tea instead?! My Classic Icy Royal Earl Grey is a particular favourite and can be made in 3 simples steps:
1. Brew a pot of Royal Earl Grey and leave to cool.
2. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of sugar syrup (to make a sugar syrup, 50g of sugar dissolved in 100ml of water.)
3. Pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon
There aren’t any rules when it comes to the food, but usually Afternoon Tea comprises of sandwiches, scones and cakes.
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If I have time, I like to mix things up and add decorated petit fours, mini cupcakes or macaroons, particularly if it’s for a birthday or celebration.
Don’t overdo it on the sandwiches to ensure you leave enough room for copious amounts of clotted cream and raspberry jam on scones, not forgetting the delectable cakes on the top tier
And lastly…any leftover cream is delicious in mashed potato!