“No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.” –Earlene Grey
As part of my “Slow-tober” (see previous post for full details), I’ve been enjoying reading Agatha Christie novels featuring hero detective Hercule Poirot. The mustachioed Belgian takes his food and drink seriously, but he detests the British tradition of afternoon tea, much preferring a cup of rich, creamy hot chocolate.
While there’s nothing wrong with hot chocolate, I differ from Poirot in that I enjoy British tea thoroughly, and after noticing how often the characters in Christie’s books structure their days around the daily tea ritual, I’ve become a bit obsessed.
Finger sandwiches, cookies, cakes and a pot of soothing warm tea served in pretty cups with saucers – whose day would not be elevated with such a repast? Add a glass of champagne, clusters of grapes and scones with jam and clotted cream and now you’ve got a delightful tea party offering the perfect opportunity slow down, connect with dear ones and savor delicious culinary customs.
Chefs to the British Royal family have written books and provided insider details and recipes for experiencing afternoon tea like Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana. My favorite is Chef Darren McGrady, who spent four years cooking for the Princess and eleven years for the Queen. In his book Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen, he details everything from the decadent chocolate cake that was a Windsor family favorite to the recipe for scones that the Queen never ate but always crumbled and fed to her dogs.
To recreate a royal tea, a three-tiered stand is always exciting, but if you don’t have one you really only need a pot of tea, slices of your favorite cake and small cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches cut into rounds, triangles or rectangles. Or outsource the whole thing by locating a High Tea at hotel or bakery/restaurant near you.
Cheers to slowing down and savoring the gentle art of daily living.
Barbara Wayman is the author of Living An Extraordinary Life: 9 Transformational Strategies to Live Your Best Life Now.
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