Bring back afternoon tea

Ahh, afternoon tea. Not that hastily snatched cuppa, drunk standing up in your kitchen or at your desk. Proper afternoon tea. Served from a teapot, using fine china, accompanied by plates of finger sandwiches, jam scones and delicate pastries. Oh and linen napkins.

Here at All About You we are launching a campaign to bring back afternoon tea. It harks back to a quieter time, when we were less stressed, had more time and paid proper attention to life’s finer things. When we enjoyed life, rather than just rushed through it. Afternoon tea is a fine thing, has a long history and deserves to be savoured. Isn’t it time we brought it back into our lives?

As well as being a relaxing treat, there are many health benefits to be had from drinking tea, and many lovely blends to be enjoyed. Enhance the enjoyment by baking your own scones or cakes to serve with afternoon tea, buy some beautiful tea things to make the tray look stunning – you could even knit your own tea accessories!

Taking tea out is another fine tradition, so we tracked down the best tea shops in the UK for your delectation. So get dressed up and really enjoy the occasion. And at the end of the day – and what a fine restful day it will have been - tea not just something to put in your cup. Tea-inspired beauty products are all the rage right now, so make tea as important in the boudoir as the kitchen.

Have you got a favourite place to take tea? What would be your ideal afternoon tea menu? Do you think the loss of afternoon tea is a symptom of our stressed-out lifestyles – or is it due to increasing globalisation of our society, as homogenous super-brand coffee shops open on every street corner?

Leave us your comments below – we’d love to hear what you think.

NEW! Take the All About You tea challenge

Reveal all - what's your favourite tea?

What's your pleasure - pot or bag? 

How do you take your tea?

What's the best time for afternoon tea?

Tea-time treats - what's your favourite?

Spilll the beans - how many cups a day?!