KCTS Fundraiser
On April 12-13, KCTS hosted a Regency era Afternoon Tea fundraiser and Queen Mary Tea was honored to be asked to provide the tea service for this extravaganza.
The two day event was attended by over 300 people. Beautiful costumes, authentic British accents, live music from both vocal and string ensemble, and of course tea, swept the guests back into a gentler era. As in Jane Austin's world, fashionable ladies and proper gentlemen were not hard to spot.
In London, in the 1800's, Society ladies would meet in the afternoons for gossip and tea. This tradition takes its from the introduction of afternoon tea in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner.
The Duchess requested that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.
This pause for tea became a fashionable social event. During the 1880's upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o'clock.
Traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, scones, and other delicacies. Black tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from gleaming silver tea pots into delicate bone china cups.
To experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition, indulge yourself with a trip to Queen Mary Tea. Make sure to call ahead for reservations, especially if you are planning on coming in on a weekend day.
