Think of afternoon tea as a culinary journey, beginning with the savoury delights of finger sandwiches as the first course, followed by the comforting warmth of scones fresh from the oven as the second, and culminating in an array of delicate sweet treats as the final course. Just as you might pair wines with different courses of a meal, you can enhance your afternoon tea by pairing different teas with each course of the afternoon tea. While the British tradition favours black tea with milk, we invite you to explore the harmony of pairing tea and food by trying our recommended teas with each course.
For the first course of your traditional afternoon tea, the finger sandwiches and savouries, we recommend light and floral teas to complement the sandwich fillings without overwhelming them. These teas offer a refreshing contrast to the rich intensity of the sandwiches, cleansing the palate between bites and leaving you feeling refreshed and satisfied.
Jasmine Silver Needle: A testament to the artistry of Chinese tea craftsmanship, this elegant white tea from China is simply young tea buds scented with fresh jasmine flowers. This tea can be infused four times, and with each infusion the tea unfolds a progressively more intense aroma, inviting you to immerse yourself in the sublime experience of combining the intensity of small savoury sandwiches with a beautifully light and floral tea.
Four Seasons Oolong: Perfect with finger sandwiches, this lightly oxidised organic tea from Taiwan offers a delightfully smooth profile.u Bright and floral, it envelops the senses with notes of orchid, jasmine, lily and a subtle hint of honey. Refreshingly aromatic, this tea shines in its purest form, inviting you to indulge in its exquisite flavours as you explore the different sandwich fillings over multiple infusions.
When it comes to choosing the perfect tea for scones, several factors come into play, including the type of scone, its toppings and your personal taste preferences.
For traditional plain scones, a classic black tea such as English Afternoon Tea Blend is a great choice. If you’re serving fruit scones with sultanas or cranberries, consider a Darjeeling or Nepal tea. These teas offer more nuanced flavours that enhance the fruity notes of the scones without overpowering them.
And for the ultimate indulgence of scones with clotted cream and jam, an Earl Grey is the obvious choice. The citrus notes of bergamot complement the sweetness of the toppings, allowing the creamy richness of the clotted cream and the fruity sweetness of the jam to shine through.
Kate’s Afternoon Tea: Inspired by the Princess of Wales, for this organic rosebud black tea we have married fragrant rosebuds and petals with the sweet mellow flavour of a black tea from China. This old-fashioned, almost Victorian style of tea, is best enjoyed without milk and pairs very well with plain scones.
Classic Earl Grey: This subtle, fragrant, refreshing and reviving blend of teas from China and Ruanda flavoured with cold-pressed organic bergamot oil is the perfect Earl Grey to enjoy with scones served with jam and clotted cream!
For the final, very sweet course of an afternoon tea, we would recommend a more robust and full-bodied black tea to balance the sweetness of the desserts. Assam, Ceylon or even a rich Earl Grey would be excellent choices. These strong black teas offer a bold flavour profile that can stand up to the richness of desserts while providing a satisfying contrast. Their deep, malty notes and robust character provide the perfect finish to your afternoon tea, leaving you feeling invigorated and satisfied.
Prince William Blend: Created for the English Tearoom to celebrate the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, K. G. to Miss Catherine Middleton on 29th April 2011 this Flowery Pekoe from Ceylon lends an uplifting note to the maltier Assam to make a very traditional cup of tea. It has a smooth, almost honey-like flavour tastes great with milk but with a shorter brewing time could also be drunk plain.
Golden Silk Mao Feng: This medium bodied, smooth, tippy tea with hints of apricot and nut and even semi-sweet chocolate has pretty, twisted leaves and is perfect to enjoy with the fancies that are part of an afternoon tea. This tea is low in tannins and the extra sugars in the tips of the plant give this tea its sweetness. Best enjoyed plain.
Assam Tonganagaon SFTGFOP1 cl: This second flush Assam is wonderfully well-rounded and has the typical malty, slightly spicy flavour one would expect from a high quality Assam but at the same time it is mild and harmonious in the cup, with a hint of dark honey.
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