Charm in a Teacup

Afternoon tea is back. Trish Lorenz finds the prettiest china and cakeware so you can enjoy it in style

Forget coffee mornings and cappuccino machines: afternoon tea is back in style, cucumber sandwiches and all.
The fashion for afternoon tea is reputed to have been started by a peckish Duchess of Bedford in 1830. The Victorians made it a great British custom, with wafer-thin sandwiches, platters of cakes and pots of tea accompanied by elegant china.

Its resurgence is great news for those who love a touch of whimsy, because the trend is creating some beautiful accessories, from the essential teacups and teapots — tea bags really won’t do — to frivolous extras such as cake stands and cake plates.

If you’re lucky enough to have inherited fine china, dig it out now. Don’t worry if you don’t have a complete set. Mixing and matching is de rigueur and adds a suitably 21st-century vibe to any afternoon tea party.

London’s antique emporium Alfies Antiques Market is a great place to find vintage china. One stall, Eastgate Antiques, specialises in ceramics and English china and has a good stock of 19th- and 20th-century teacups and saucers, or try 20th-century ceramics specialist W & L Antiques, which has porcelain and china from well-known makers. Current stock includes a green Carlton Ware tea set with red floral relief, complete with teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl for £350.

If you’re looking for an excuse for a day trip across the Channel, Paris’s Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen takes place every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9am-6pm. It’s great for vintage crockery. Though not giveaway cheap, prices are generally less expensive than in the UK.

There are contemporary options, too. Fashion designers such as Missoni and Kenzo are leading the way in creating stylish home ranges that include teatime pieces. Liberty has a good selection. Missoni’s Margherita range is particularly striking, with teacups from £69 and teapots at £149, while Kenzo’s Akiko teacups, £39.95, won’t disgrace your table either. For quintessential English charm try the Royal Albert Zandra Rhodes range. In delicate pink and aqua blue and trimmed with gold, the teapot, £62, sugar bowl, £42, cream jug, £21, teacup and saucer, £18, and tea plate, £9, are available from John Lewis.

House of Fraser’s selection includes Wedgwood’s Harlequin collection Butterfly teacups, £35. An 18-piece tea set from Marks & Spencer’s Ditsy Floral range costs £59. Laura Ashley also has a floral range, with teacups from £12, and a dotty one, too. Its Rosie Dot teacups and saucers are £12, and matching teapot, £18. For style on a budget, Matalan’s Willow tableware teapot is £10; teacups and saucers are £1 each.

No afternoon tea is complete without cakes and the Dorchester’s Dorian Rommel recommends a two-tier cake stand. “Put pastries on the top for the best visual effect and sandwiches on the second tier,” he advises. “Scones can be served separately or on the bottom level of a three-tier stand.” John Lewis’s pastel Rosanna Playing House cake stand sets, £33, have two pieces that either stack in tiers or stand separately on the table. Marks & Spencer’s scalloped Daisy cake stand in pastel pink, £12, also hits this season’s retro note. Or try Liberty for Villeroy & Boch glass stands in pink, blue and clear, £79, for a look that is contemporary but with an edge of classic styling.

There’s no denying afternoon tea is essentially a feminine trend, with its floral patterns and pastel colours. But there are options for those who prefer clean, minimalist lines.

Sophie Conran’s range for Portmeirion, with teacups and saucers from £12 available through the Conran Shop, shows she has inherited her father’s simple, stylish approach to design. John Lewis’s Paus range (teapot, £39), is plain white china with a subtle styling that won’t look out of place in the most modern home.

To host afternoon tea in true style, invest in sugar bowls, milk jugs, cake forks, teaspoons and cake servers. Your best bet for silverware is Harrods. Its Luster range includes a cake slice, £18.95, and sugar bowl and spoon, £29.95.

PERFECT SERVICE

The Dorchester in London is renowned for its afternoon tea, so who better to advise on how to stage such a gathering in style than Dorian Rommel, the hotel’s deputy food and beverage manager? First, it’s worthwhile spending some time finding the right teapot.

“It’s important that a teapot has a large base so the tea can expand,” he explains.

It goes without saying that mugs are a no-no, and it’s important always to have a small jug of hot water on hand to make sure that guests can enjoy their tea piping hot.

Scones should always be served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

To make cucumber sandwiches, use white bread spread with cream cheese and thinly sliced cucumber which has been very lightly salted to remove any acidity.

Don’t serve tea too early or too late as guests will either have just eaten lunch or be about to eat dinner — 3pm is an ideal time.

Follow Lady Bedford’s tradition and invite guests to tea with a handwritten note.

(this article was taken from timesonline.co.uk)