Afternoon tea, a time-honored tradition in many cultures, is a special occasion, whether gathering with a few friends or celebrating a milestone. It’s a leisurely affair, often as simple as a hot cup of tea and a few sweet and savory snacks. This unhurried pace allows you to fully savor the experience, making it a perfect way to recharge after work or before a relaxing evening.
AFTERNOON TEA 101
Afternoon tea celebrations typically fall into one of three broad categories:
A Traditional Afternoon Tea includes crustless sandwiches and sweets. Varying in menu, the three-tier tray reflects each course. Begin at the bottom (sandwiches), then move to the scones, and finally, a delightful array of pastries.
High Tea is a heavier spread with more substantial food items, hearty enough to replace dinner. It’s typically served at high tables surrounded by high-back chairs, hence the name.
Considered an “express tea”, Cream Tea features a pot of hot tea and scones with jam, lemon curd, and clotted cream.
The experience requires careful preparation and consideration of several details, from the cups and saucers to the tea, the pastry chef’s part of the menu, and the chef’s side for the savory portion. It often involves tea cozies to keep the pot of tea warm, a lovely table setting, and a range of dietary restrictions.
Tea Tip: Consider the saucer your teacup’s coaster. Instead of blowing on your hot tea, place the cup on the saucer and savor a quiet moment before sipping.
Before your visit, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the standard tea types. This will enhance your experience and allow you to choose the perfect tea for your palate.
- Black Tea is a bold, robust, and fully oxidized tea with a higher caffeine content than most other teas. Common examples include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Darjeeling.
- Herbal Tea is a caffeine-free infusion from dried herbs, flowers, fruits, and spices. Examples include chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos. Technically, herbal teas are tisanes, not true teas.
- Green Tea is a minimally oxidized tea with a lighter flavor and lower caffeine content than black tea. Green tea can be grassy, fresh, or slightly sweet. Popular varieties include sencha, matcha, and dragonwell.
- Midway between black and green regarding caffeination and flavor, Oolong Tea is partially oxidized and offers a complex profile, often floral, toasty, or creamy. Oolong teas are traditionally crafted using time-intensive processing techniques.
- Flavored Tea combines true tea leaves (black, green, oolong) with added flavors from fruits, spices, herbs, or oils. Examples include chai (spiced black), jasmine green tea, or vanilla rooibos. These blends aim to enhance or complement the tea’s natural taste.
Sweet and savory treats often accompany afternoon tea – typically, enticing trays of crustless sandwiches, pastries, and scones served with an assortment of jams, curds, and clotted creams. Visit hungry and feel free to ask if you can take home leftovers.
Most afternoon tea events require reservations. Let them know of any dietary needs when making the reservation, and special requests, for instance, if you prefer more sweet or savory items.
EXPERIENCE AFTERNOON TEA IN CHATHAM COUNTY
Afternoon tea in our destination is an event. We’re fortunate to offer several activities and events in Chatham County year-round, and we are home to excellent coffee shops boasting local roasts, fresh pastries, and a variety of tea blends.
Fearrington House Inn had long served afternoon tea exclusively to guests, and we were thrilled when they expanded this offering to those visiting for the day alongside overnight travelers. Southern hospitality is a constant at Fearrington Village, and an indulgent afternoon tea, steeped in tradition, will give you reason to savor every bite, with plenty of quality time at this pastoral escape.
While you’ll find popular loose leaf and herbal blends like Earl Grey and English breakfast, we recommend embracing the full Fearrington experience and trying their specialty Breakfast or Afternoon blends created in partnership with tea supplier Harney & Sons. Find these blends at The Belted Goat for a tasty souvenir.
Their menu of sweet and savory bites changes daily, but you can expect to find classics like crustless cucumber sandwiches, French cakes, Southern-inspired tarts, and more. A perfect summertime sandwich at afternoon tea includes tomatoes, which are fresh from Fearrington’s garden.
They also offer alternative drinks and kid-friendly options. Afternoon tea is a time of leisure, and often, celebration, so you can make it sparkle with a glass of prosecco or another beverage. Fearrington House Restaurant offers afternoon tea from 12pm-3pm, Thursday through Sunday. Reservations are required, and parties of six or more require 24 hours’ advance notice.
Afternoon tea is an indulgent experience that everyone should enjoy. Even if the sandwiches have ingredients you don’t always eat, or if you live for coffee, when your friends or family invite you for afternoon tea, try it! It’s a chance to be adventurous and open-minded, and you might discover a new favorite. Enjoy the quality time, and pace yourself. Cheers!
