How to Host an Authentic British Afternoon Tea

The British drink an average of 7 cups of tea per day, per person. Americans haven't caught up to their English counterparts yet, but in the past decade, there's been an upswing in interest in the very British art of taking afternoon tea. Here's how to put on an afternoon tea in the authentic English manner.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Teapot and cups
• P.G. Tips tea
• White bread
• Cucumber
• Scones (from grocery store)
• Lemon curd or orange marlamade (in jelly aisle)
• Butter
• 1 lemon

1. First, get out the teapot and teacups. Sorry, you can't use throwaway versions here. It's gotta be the real china thing. Set out cups and saucers, spoons and have on hand some dainty china plates to hold the nibbles.

2. Trim crusts off white bread, then butter one side. Wash, peel and thinly slice one cucumber. Add a few thin slices to each tea sandwich. Arrange cucumber sandwiches on plate.

3. Add 6 to 8 slices of plain white bread, buttered on one side. Set out little pots of marmalade and lemon curd. Set out purchased scones in a nice basket lined with a cloth napkin. Slice lemon thinly and arrange nicely on a plate. Pour cream or half and half into a small pitcher. Set out spoons and little knives for butter and marmalade.

4. To serve tea, first boil water in a kettle or saucepan (enough water to make 6 to 8 cups of tea). When water has boiled, pour into teapot and put into a tea cosy, if you have one. Place one P.G. Tips teabag into each cup.

5. When guests arrive, hand out teacups and spoons, and pass plates of sandwiches and scones.

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