The 5 o’clock tea
One of the healthiest habits is drinking tea. It is good for your heart, blood pressure and weight. These are the main reasons why it had become one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, introduced the afternoon tea in England in 1840. The simple explanation was that she had to drink something between lunch and dinner. The idea became fashionable and after the 1880’s the ladies began to dress elegantly and invite friend over tea between 16 and 17 o’clock. The tradition included also sandwiches, pastry or cake. Nowadays, you can experience it by making a simple trip to London.
You will find below some of the most interesting places where you can drink tea properly. Bake-a-boo (86 Mill Lane, NW6 1NL) is a traditional place that reminds you of your grandmother’s warm rooms and comfort. You can find here some of the best bakes, without any artificial substitutes. It is perfect for persons that take care of their diet or who are vegan. Bake-a-boo is usually visited by friends or relatives who gather up for a small talk and a healthy afternoon tea.
Bea’s of Bloomsbury (44 Theobald’s Road, WC1X 8NW) have an impressive display of confections that will definitely convince you to sit down and order a tea and some of the most delicious cupcakes with different jams and creams. We recommend the peanut and jam brittle, the dice-sized brownie and the caramel-colored marshmallows. Bond & Brook (63 New Bond Street, W1S 1RQ) can attract you with its varied menu and interesting interior design. You can start with Smarties and end your afternoon tea with glitter sprinkled fondant fancies. It is not a very popular place in London, so you can always find a free table.
Dean Street Townhouse (69-71 Dean Street, W1D 4QJ) is ideal for a cozy afternoon. The tea is served in an ante-room boudoir that has relaxing armchairs and beautiful lightning. The place is known for its delicious plates. You have the possibility to choose between the classic Townhouse Tea, retro cakes and special spiced crab paste. Gallery Mess (King’s Road, SW3 4LY) is the Saatchi Gallery’s brasserie. Its design is very beautiful, presenting modern furniture and brickwork. Some of their best pastries are the small cubes of dark chocolate layer cake and the vanilla-speckled raspberry tartlet. If you want to enjoy the best view, choose a table that overlooks the Duke of York Square.
The places mentioned above are just a small part of the great variety of afternoon tea places. You can take your friends and family to High Tea of Highgate (with its classical charm and sweet desserts: chocolate buttercream sponges, lavender and lemon cake, etc.), Japanese Garden At Blakes (with its oriental vibe, including a Chinese room, black parasols and bay trees), Le Chandelier (with its nearly 40 types of tea and baked-in-house arousing sweets), The Modern Pantry (with a friendly staff and delicious pastries like chocolate brownie studded with chunks of sour cherries) and Kensington Palace Orangery (with its beautiful terrace and interesting menus).
