The Ritz London Book of Afternoon Tea: The Art and Pleasure of Taking Tea is a great book that would make an amazing gift for anyone who has been or would like to visit The Ritz for Afternoon Tea.

This gorgeous book is a must to have on your shelf for any lovers of afternoon tea and everything that comes with it, including some fantastic recipes to try.

The contents start with ‘Tea at the Ritz’  is the last delicious morsel of Edwardian London. The light is kind, the cakes frivolous and the tempo calm…………..This chapter takes you through the menu you will enjoy at the Ritz with some recipes for chocolate éclairs, strawberry tarts and puff pastry.

‘The History of Tea’  the Chinese, of course, were drinking tea even on the misty borders of recorded time …….This chapter explains all about tea, the democratic herb, Victorian Worthies and the Invention of afternoon tea and afternoon tea now.

‘Sandwiches and Savoury Dishes’  afternoon tea must always start with sandwiches, you are not allowed to move on to the cakes and muffins until you have blunted your teeth of your appetite with a sandwich….. This chapter explains The Archetypal Afternoon Tea, how to make the best cucumber sandwich, and recipes for the Ritz’s special egg sandwiches, potted shrimps, scotch woodcock and English Rabbit.

‘Winter Teas’  the English and particularly English men, find it comforting to draw the curtain on a leaden afternoon sky, turning with relief to an open fire in front of which they toast and butter some little delicacy for themselves…
This chapter has lots of recipes for toasts, cinnamon toast, crumpets, English muffins, tea cakes and drop scones as well as The Art of Buttering Crumpets and muffins!!

‘English Cakes’  in England it is possible to have your cake and eat it without being in turn consumed by guilt …..This chapter has loads of recipes for Madeira cake, coconut cake, seed cake, marble cake, sponge cake, Victoria sandwich, brandy snaps and Fruitcake.

‘Foreign Cakes and Wicket Cakes’  all the cakes in this chapter and culinary ’emigres’ which have succeeded in winning plain English cooks to their delectable foreign ways…This chapter has a load of recipes including Madeline, macaroons, meringues, Florentine, brownies, Pan-forte, and Devil’s food cake.

‘High Tea’, unlike afternoon tea, high tea is not a dainty affair …
This chapters recipes are Rock cakes, flapjacks, Eccles cakes, shortbread, Dundee cake, gingerbread husbands, Helen’s rich gingerbread and Grantham gingerbread’s.

‘Summer Teas’  golden summer afternoons in England are now scarce and fleeting, possessing the same umbra of mythical as unicorns…
This chapter has recipes for every type of jam you can think of, strawberry, raspberry, damson, blackberry, rose petal and the novice guide to making jam. Other recipes are for lemon curd, scones and strawberry shortcake.

‘A Directory of Teas’  everyone should build their own hoard of teas
This final chapter in this lovely book is a tea guide through Assam, Darjeeling, nilgiri, Ceylon, keemun, lap-sangggggg souchong, jasmine, gunpowder, lung ching, formusa oolong, early grey, lady londonderry Russiaussia caravan  many I have never heard of and finally it finishes with ‘how to brew and not to stew’.

AFTERNOON TEA OFFERS AT THE RITZ…

Treat yourself to the world famous Afternoon Tea at The Ritz and enjoy a selection of finely cut sandwiches, freshly baked scones, delectable cakes and pastries. Then order a pot of exclusive Ritz Royal Blend Tea, available with our special Afternoon Tea offer in our exceptional Piccadilly hotel.

Virgin Experience Days also have vouchers for Afternoon Tea at The Ritz which is £157 for two people where you can indulge in a traditional British treat at one of the greatest hotels in the world with this Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at The Ritz in London. You’ll be welcomed into the magnificent Palm Court at this 5* hotel, famous for its impeccable service and spectacular décor, for the ultimate afternoon dining experience.