The tradition of afternoon tea is more than a meal—it’s a ritual that grew from women’s desire for connection. Tea has come a long way to get to where it is today, so let’s dive into the story of how it became a cornerstone of English life.

The Journey of Tea to England
Way back when, during the third millennium BC, tea was discovered in China. It was quickly recognized as a national favourite and a major export good.
Fast forward to the 17th century, and tea entered the English royal court, thanks to King Charles II and his Portuguese queen, Catherine of Braganza. For Charles II, he had been exposed to the custom of tea drinking while growing up in exile at The Hague. Alternatively, Catherine was a lifelong tea enthusiast, thrilled to bring this beverage into English society, along with new territories and trade routes. She went on to earn the title of England’s first tea-drinking queen.
Given that it was a heavily-taxed, luxury item, tea grew into a status symbol among the aristocracy. Because they wanted people to know they could afford it, the wealthy often featured fine china and elaborate tea sets in their family portraits. This exclusivity set the stage for tea to evolve into a cultural phenomenon in the West.
How Afternoon Tea Came To Be
Around 1840, alongside the rise of urbanisation and industrialisation, the concept of afternoon tea as we know it was born. It is credited to Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford and lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, who found herself battling hunger during the long hours between lunch and dinner. She started requesting a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake in her room around 4 PM each day.
The idea caught on among her social circle, and soon the practice expanded into an elegant gathering. Four decades later, it transformed even further into a fashionable social event.
Society women dressed in their finest attire to partake in this ritual, complete with dainty sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, and an array of cakes and pastries. The custom was initially confined to the drawing rooms in their homes, eventually developing into the modern tea party.
In the warmer months, women were inspired to host tea parties in their beautiful gardens. Gentlemen often joined them for this outdoor tea service, turning the experience into an open-invitation affair.

Tea Shops: Spaces for Women’s Voices
Tearooms emerged to provide women with a public yet respectable venue to meet, in direct response to their being barred from entering the male-dominated coffeehouses of the era. It was in those coffeehouses where political and intellectual discussions thrived, which ladies were not to engage in.
Through the creation of tea shops, women could gather, exchange ideas, and enjoy a moment of leisure with their companions outside of their homes. Many were owned and operated by women, offering entrepreneurial opportunities where such independence was rare. The working class even developed their own tradition of “tea breaks.”
These tea gatherings weren’t just social—they were often catalysts for change. Women’s suffrage meetings, charitable initiatives, and even the foundations of organisations were strategised over cups of tea. Tearooms became quiet but powerful spaces where women could discuss topics that were considered taboo in other settings.
The Tradition of English Tea Today
While the days of aristocratic tea receptions are behind us, the essence of afternoon tea remains. Today, it’s celebrated as a luxurious treat, often marking special occasions like bridal showers, baby showers, and birthday parties. Hosting tea at home or creating themed tea parties has also become a modern trend, bringing the tradition full circle.
Afternoon tea has advanced from an indulgence of the upper class to an accessible ritual loved by people across all walks of life, even here in the States. Next time you sip your Earl Grey or take a bite of a scone, remember—you’re partaking in a custom steeped in history.
Interested in hosting a get-together with your favorite ladies in our tearoom? Check out our dates of availability to book a table!
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