Finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and a nice brew. The tradition of afternoon tea is as British as fish and chips. Visitors to the UK might imagine that we all down tools to pop the kettle on but we know better. We’re at The Municipal Hotel to taste theirs.
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00:00 Introduced to Britain in the early 1840s, it's neither lunch, supper or dinner, but
00:07 a distinct meal in itself. We have Anna the 7th, Duchess of Bedford, to thank for the
00:12 great British tradition of afternoon tea. Finding herself experiencing pangs of hunger
00:19 during the gap between meals, the Duchess began requesting tea and a snack in her bedroom.
00:26 She started inviting friends to join her in this at her rooms at Woburn Abbey. This she
00:31 continued after returning to London and the practice became increasingly popular amongst
00:37 the upper classes. The Botanic Tea Room in the Municipal Hotel on Dale Street offers
00:41 guests a mixture of sweet and savoury specialties, including fresh homemade pastries, finger
00:48 sandwiches, cakes and of course scones. So I've poured my tea and I've turned the timer
00:57 on so that I know when it's perfectly brewed. I am such a big fan of afternoon tea. It's
01:05 the pump, it's the ceremony, it's the little sandwiches, but I also like how it can be
01:11 as traditional or as non-traditional as you want to make it. If you want your finger sandwiches,
01:18 scones and little cakes, then that's great. But if you want to do something completely
01:24 different, that's okay too. I'm not sure if this is correct etiquette, but I always think
01:29 it starts with a savoury first. So it's a good place to start off, isn't it? And if
01:35 you're not a fan of English breakfast tea, well, you don't have to drink that. You can
01:39 have something completely different. Plus, let's face it, it's only really there to lubricate
01:43 the food going down. Of course, finger sandwiches are a traditional part of afternoon tea, but
01:48 many places serve things amongst that. Here, there's two little pastries. I've got to say
01:54 these little sausage roll wheels are so tasty. Next, we are onto mine and I think most people's
02:06 favourite part. It's a scone. Now, the question of course is, is it cream or is it jam first?
02:18 I am definitely a jam first or a scone kind of girl. And is there anything more indulgent
02:26 than lashings of clotted cream? Here we have some absolutely stunning cakes to go along
02:36 with the afternoon tea. Wow, those taste incredible. Afternoon tea, cream tea, high tea, whatever
02:45 you want to call it and however you wish to serve it. It has evolved over the years from
02:52 being a ritual amongst the upper classes to an occasional treat indulged in by many of
02:58 us. And I for one, always have time for this indulgent refreshment.
03:03 months.