Afternoon Tea at Home
A Guide to Afternoon Tea at Home
Visiting the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon every day sounds like a delicious, if somewhat impractical, idea. After all, there’s no such thing as too much cake.
But don’t worry: because the good news is that there are many ways to enjoy an Afternoon Tea at home which are almost as extraordinary as a proper trip to Fortnum’s.
Read on to discover some of the key teatime tips and traditions - and when you've tried them yourself, don't forget to share your Afternoon Tea at Home moments with us, by tagging @diamondjubileeteasalon.
The Cream Tea Selection
Delivered in one of our signature picnic cool bags, you will find sweet surprises in the form of our beautifully buttery Piccadilly Clotted Cream Digestive Biscuits, the perfect accompaniment to a cup of Afternoon Blend Tea. Up next, we’ve packed freshly-baked Mini Scones with both Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve – we’ll leave it to you to decide which to spread or dollop first. Finally, pop open a bottle of Fortnum’s Brut Reserve Champagne N.V. After all, no occasion is complete without a little fizz.
Hamperfuls of Tea...
Prefer to Pick and Choose For Yourself?
Whatever you want from teatime, it all starts with finding the perfect tea...and knowing how to brew it
Something to Sip On
When perfecting the art of the Afternoon Tea, you should always start with the supreme element - the tea itself. You might opt for a classic, like our Royal Blend, or even one with a twist such as Victoria Grey – made using Fortnum's Salisbury Plain Honey. We always recommend brewing loose leaves for the best flavour.
Start Pouring...
Choosing the Perfect Cup
And saucer, strainer, teapot, and so on
If you would like to replicate the full experience of our Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, then our elegant St James collection is the exact fine bone china we use every day (of course with so many collections to choose from, that isn't to say you necessarily must). Don't forget an elegant strainer for your loose leaf tea.
Start Serving...
"Instead of cutting the scone in half, break it off piece by piece. Spread it with clotted cream and then jam. Or jam and then clotted cream. Why not try both in turn? It’s time to show the world just what a rugged individualist you are."
Selecting the Perfect Nibbles
All things delicious
Never ones to cut corners, just our crusts, we like to load up the cake stand with a checklist of treats at Afternoon Tea. Cakes, biscuits, scones, finger sandwiches - opt for any, or preferably, all. Hint: our Piccadilly Lemon Curd Biscuits taste wonderful with a cup of Earl Grey.
Something Sweet...
Something Savoury...
Just Add Bubbles
Even tea-total ones
However big or small, Afternoon Tea is always a celebratory occasion. And nothing starts the festivities than the sound of a popping cork, whether that be a fine bottle of Champagne from our world-famous cellars or our zero-alcohol Sparkling Tea.
Start Sipping...
Now It Really Is Time for Tea
And all of the above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our Afternoon Tea obsession. Discover more recipes, tips and ideas to help you become a seasoned expert yourself.
Scones Recipe
Every morning in normaltimes we make thousands of scones - plain, fruit and savoury too. Made to a simple but exceptional recipe for decade upon decade, there's now no need to forego a Fortnum's scone just because you're not joining us for tea at 181 Piccadilly.
A Short History of Afternoon Tea
Finding herself understandably peckish in the gap between luncheon and dinner, the Duchess of Bedford began inviting her friends to enjoy tea and ‘a light refreshment’ in her rooms at Woburn Abbey.
The Fortnum's Dunkipedia
Did you know dunking your biscuit into tea actually enhances its flavour and texture? The benefits and dunking time will vary from biscuit to biscuit, and we've recorded it all down here.
The Etiquette of Tea
Many might perceive us to be set in our ways when it comes to our most famous tradition, but this is far from the case. While our general attitude is, 'do whatever you fancy', here's our take on the labyrinth of 'rules' around Afternoon Tea.
Victoria Sponge Recipe
The classic, and perhaps the Queen of English cakes. Which is fitting, as it is named after the Empress of India herself. The key is light sponge, and lashings of the best jam you can find. Like Fortnum’s Strawberry or Raspberry preserve.
Meet the Maker
We joined London-based designer Matthew Warner in the heart of the potteries, Stoke-on-Trent, to see our newest pot in production and to discover the design details and process into creating the Piccadilly Teapot.