Afternoon Tea: The Sweet History, Traditions & How to Create Your Own Tea Table
- Aug 12
- 6 min read
There is something wonderfully comforting about afternoon tea.
A warm cup in your hands. A little something sweet. Perhaps a favorite jam, a drizzle of honey, a few small sandwiches, and good conversation around the table.
And while afternoon tea may sound like a grand British tradition involving fine china and elaborate tiered trays, the heart of it is actually quite simple: take a little time in the afternoon to enjoy tea and something delicious.
During Afternoon Tea Week, August 10–16, we're taking a look at where this beloved tradition began, what actually belongs on an afternoon tea table, and how you can create your own version at home—with a little Finger Lakes honey bee inspiration along the way. So grab a cuppa of your favorite tea—of course, ours is one of our Fingerlakes Honey Company Herbal Teas—and read all about it.
A Little History of Afternoon Tea
The tradition of afternoon tea is generally traced back to England in the 1840s and is often credited to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford.
At the time, the main meals of the day were breakfast and dinner, with dinner often served quite late in the evening. The Duchess reportedly found herself feeling hungry during that long stretch between meals.
Her solution? A little tea, bread, butter, and cake in the afternoon.
What began as a private afternoon refreshment eventually became a fashionable social occasion. Friends were invited to join in, and afternoon tea developed into the charming tradition we recognize today.
Of course, it has evolved quite a bit over the years. Today, you don't need a formal dining room, a complete set of matching china, or a staff of servants to enjoy afternoon tea.
You just need a cup of tea and a reason to slow down.
And we're very fond of that idea.
A Little British Connection of Our Own
We have a bit of a personal connection to all things British tea here at Fingerlakes Honey Company.
Our son-in-law hails from Yorkshire, England, so over the years we've had a wonderful opportunity to learn a little more about England and British tea from someone who grew up with them.
We've learned that there's a lot more to British tea culture than simply putting the kettle on!
We've been introduced to proper cups of tea, crumpets, and all sorts of traditions and information that were completely new to us. And we've learned that there can be some very strong opinions about how tea should be made and served. 😉
It's been fun discovering the differences between the way we might enjoy tea here in the Finger Lakes and the way tea is woven into everyday life in Britain.
And perhaps that's one of the best things about traditions—they travel, change a little, and become part of new families and new places.
So while we're celebrating a distinctly British tradition during Afternoon Tea Week, we're doing it with our own Finger Lakes twist—with herbal teas, local honey, homemade treats, garden flowers, and a little help from what we've learned from our Yorkshire connection.
And yes, we've learned to appreciate a good crumpet, too.
Afternoon Tea vs. High Tea: What's the Difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but traditionally they referred to very different meals.
Afternoon tea was a lighter social occasion, usually enjoyed in the afternoon. Tea was accompanied by small sandwiches, scones, cakes, pastries, and other sweet or delicate treats.
High tea, on the other hand, was traditionally a more substantial evening meal enjoyed by working and middle-class families. It could include meats, vegetables, bread, and other hearty foods.
The confusion partly comes from the fact that "high tea" sounds more formal—but historically, afternoon tea was actually the more elegant social affair.
So if you're sitting down with a pot of tea, tiny sandwiches, scones, jam, and cake at three or four in the afternoon...
Congratulations. You're having afternoon tea.
What Goes on an Afternoon Tea Table?
There really isn't one single menu that everyone must follow, but a traditional afternoon tea often includes three basic categories:
🥪 Savory Bites
Small sandwiches and other savory finger foods are classic afternoon tea fare.
Think cucumber sandwiches, egg salad, chicken salad, smoked salmon, or other small bites that can be eaten easily while enjoying your tea.
🍓 Scones, Jam & Cream
Scones are another afternoon tea favorite, traditionally served with jam and clotted cream.
And this is where we think honey deserves a place at the table, too.
A little honey drizzled over a warm scone is simple, delicious, and very much at home on an afternoon tea table.
🍰 Something Sweet
Cakes, biscuits, pastries, tea breads, and other small sweets round out the table.
And naturally, we think a Honey Tea Cake makes a particularly wonderful addition.
Our Honey Tea Cake
If you're looking for a simple centerpiece for your own afternoon tea, start with our Honey Tea Cake.
It's tender, lightly sweet, and made with honey, making it a natural companion to a warm cup of tea.
Make It Your Own
And don't stop at serving it plain!
Try adding a dollop of your favorite Fingerlakes Honey Company jam or jelly, or serve it with a little honey or infused honey drizzled over the top.
You could try it with:
🍓Your favorite Fingerlakes Honey Company Honey Jam or Jelly- try Strawberry, Cherry , Spiced Blackberry, or Cherry Habanero Jam for a sweet little kick
🍯Our Raw liquid Honey or Creamed Honey
🍋Or one of our Infused Honeys- Lemon, Cinnamon, Strawberry, or Blueberry
😃 Or whichever honey creation makes you happiest!
There are so many ways to make the same tea cake feel a little different depending on what you pair with it.
More of Our Favorite Afternoon Tea Recipes
If you're looking for more inspiration, we've gathered our Afternoon Tea recipes together so you can create your own tea-time menu.
You can mix and match recipes depending on the season, the occasion, and what you happen to have in the pantry.
Choosing the Tea
Tea is, of course, the star of the show.
And while traditional afternoon tea often features black tea, there's no reason you can't make your tea table your own.
Our Fingerlakes Honey Company Herbal Teas are a wonderful choice for an afternoon tea gathering, especially if you enjoy exploring different herbal flavors.
You might choose:
🌿 Peppermint for a fresh, invigorating cup
🌿 Sage for an earthy, comforting flavor
🍋 Lemon for something bright and refreshing
✨ Zinger when you want a little more character
🎄 Fingerlakes Christmas Tea when you're celebrating during the holiday season
And of course, a little honey in your tea is always welcome at our table.
Creating a Finger Lakes Afternoon Tea
We love the idea of taking a traditional afternoon tea and giving it a little Finger Lakes personality.
Imagine a table set outdoors on a summer afternoon.
A pot of herbal tea.
A jar of local honey.
Honey Tea Cake with a spoonful of jam.
Fresh fruit.
A few small sandwiches.
Flowers from the garden.
There's something especially fitting about enjoying tea surrounded by the very flowers that help feed the honey bees.
Many of the flowers we grow for their beauty are also important sources of nectar and pollen for honey bees and other pollinators. The garden feeds the bees, the bees help pollinate plants, and the bees make the honey that eventually finds its way into our tea, our baked goods, and our favorite recipes.
It's a delicious little circle.
And you don't have to recreate a formal Victorian tea party to enjoy it.
Use what's growing in your garden. Serve your favorite treats. Choose the honey you love. Invite a friend, a neighbor, your family—or simply make a cup for yourself.
Make it your own little corner of the Finger Lakes.
You Don't Need a Special Occasion
Perhaps that's the best thing about afternoon tea.
You don't need a birthday, a holiday, a formal invitation, or a table full of people.
The tradition may have started nearly two centuries ago, but the simple pleasure behind it hasn't changed: taking a little time to enjoy something good.
So put the kettle on.
Reach for the honey or your favorite jam.
Choose something delicious from your afternoon tea menu.
Invite someone to join you—or keep the whole pot of tea to yourself.
And let the afternoon slow down for just a little while.
🐝What's on YOUR Afternoon Tea Table?
If you could create your perfect afternoon tea, what would you serve?
Tell us in the comments!
Would you choose tea cake, scones, sandwiches, cookies, jam, honey—or a little bit of everything?
And most importantly…
What's in your teacup? ☕️💛
Until Next Time- Stay Sweet!
Tom and Stacie
Tom and Stacie, are co-owners of Fingerlakes Honey Company located in the bee-utiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. When they are not tending to all things bees, they enjoy spending time with their grown children, their dog, and lots of chickens on their homestead. They love learning more about the bees they foster and helping others to learn more about them as well.
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