Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What did Queen Elizabeth have for afternoon tea? ›

The Queen enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea that included finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off; her favourite fillings included choices like smoked salmon and cream cheese or egg mayonnaise. She also had scones with jam and cream – with the jam on first.

Afternoon tea comes in three course, the sandwich course, the scones and finally the pastries. Traditional sandwiches would include: cucumber, smoked salmon, coronation chicken, ham and beef. Some venues serve these on different types of breads. These would be followed by the scone course.

Not referring to Darjeeling tea (the “champagne” of teas), a Royal Tea offers a glass of champagne or sherry in addition to the full afternoon tea menu, and sometimes a flower, fresh strawberries or a fourth course, to give the meal an air of festive luxury.

Queen Elizabeth adhered to a daily teatime meal; her preference for delicate sandwiches with the crusts cut off was well-publicized. Her favorite version was reported to be smoked salmon with cream cheese. If the old adage is true, one should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper.

The Royal Family and Tea Time Today

Queen Elizabeth II was known to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey tea in the morning, while King Charles is a fan of Darjeeling tea. The royal family also hosts an annual garden party at Buckingham Palace, where guests are treated to tea, sandwiches, and cakes.

Former Royal Chef Darren McGrady says that Queen Elizabeth ate her favorite snack, jam sandwiches (aka jam pennies), every day for more than 90 years.

All the foods and beverages on our classic tea menu should be recognizable to the over 25% of Americans with British ancestry as well as expat Brits around the globe. Iconic finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, little tarts and buttery cookies are all on the blue print.

Usually consisting of a selection of teas, freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries with all the trimmings, a light Afternoon Tea should allow for 4 sandwiches, 2 scones and 2 cakes (of different varieties) per person.

Whilst they both include tea as a beverage, afternoon tea includes delicate pastries, little sandwiches, scones and cakes. Whereas high tea is typically a more wholesome meal of meat, potatoes and vegetables served after a long hard day at work.

Of course, never take a drink of your tea without removing the spoon first, and please never, ever sip from the spoon. Take small, quiet sips of your tea. Do not blow on the tea if it is too hot. When you are not drinking tea, place the cup on the saucer.

What is the American version of afternoon tea? ›

High Tea or Afternoon Tea in the U.S. refers to a light meal of finger sandwiches, pastries/desserts and scones accompanied by tea and sometimes champagne.

It's generally ok to share a snack or a pudding, but sharing an actual meal is likely to be frowned upon. If I were you I would save my money (afternoon tea, whether for one or two, will cost you a bomb) and go to the tea room at one of the stately homes in and around London, Kenwood, for example.

According to Chef Darren McGrady, vegetarian stuffed peppers were one of Princess Diana's favorite meals, which she would eat 2-3 times a week.

“This chocolate biscuit cake is Her Royal Majesty the Queen's favorite afternoon tea cake by far,” chef Darren McGrady, The Royal Chef and former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, told TODAY Food.

So what kind of foods does the future king like to eat? Well, as it turns out, his two favourites are common meals enjoyed by millions of Brits every day. While meeting young people from the Together As One charity, the Prince of Wales revealed steaks and full English breakfasts were his favourite meals.

At lunch, the queen used to have a piece of chocolate and a glass of wine after she was done with her meal. The queen also had dry gin martini and this secret was revealed by her cousin Margaret Rhodes. And finally, the queen had her last drink of the day, a glass of champagne before she went to bed.

Then, in the late afternoon, McGrady says, the Queen will have an afternoon tea. (The Queen always has scones with jam and clotted cream - and she puts jam on first). He explained: “She'd always have afternoon tea wherever she was in the world.

Wedgwood Cuckoo Tea for One

This set, crafted from fine bone china, features an elegant floral pattern and 14-karat gold gilding that feels just right in your home — or in a British estate. Wedgwood was founded in England in 1759 and has been honored with the Royal Warrant for generations.

When was Queen Elizabeth's Afternoon Tea Served? Royal tradition says Afternoon Tea is celebrated “between 3 pm and 5 pm with an assortment of cakes, pastries, dainty sandwiches and, of course, scones with clotted cream, curd, and strawberry preserves.”