Fortnum & Mason and Afternoon tea: If you’re looking for a tea experience, this is it.
If you are a fan of history, experience, food, and culture, you can’t miss afternoon tea when in England!
What is afternoon tea?
Afternoon Tea is a traditional meal that came about in the 19th century. It began as society tea event that grew in popularity when Queen Victoria incorporated the meal with her tea receptions.
The meal is composed of tea, finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries.
Traditionally served with scones are jam and clotted cream, which is a buttery and light cream that pairs so well with the jam. You’re meant to cut the scone in half and put clotted cream on one side and jam on another. I’d recommend trying a bit of each separate and then pairing them together, so you can experience the flavors.
Afternoon tea is generally for occasions and special occasions, with certain locations providing a dress code.
I’ve had afternoon tea in:
- Washington D.C. at Lady Camellia’s
- NYC at the Russian Tea Room
- The Crusting Pipe in Covent Garden London, UK
- Fortnum & Mason at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon in London, UK
- Harry Potter Studios in London, UK
I’m no expert but I am an afternoon tea-enthusiast and a firm believer that you should experience a country’s culture at least once!
When in London, there are SO many places you can try afternoon tea. I’ve only been to three locations but I loved all of them them.
One of my favorite places is Fortnum & Mason.
Fortnum & Mason is featured in BuzzFeed’s 15 Places for Afternoon Tea You Must Visit Before You Die.
So, listen. Yes, it is pricey but the experience is worth it. Fortnum & Mason is one of the older tea places in London. It was established in 1707 and has teas to celebrate many occasions. Their teas have been “celebrated for centuries.”
Side Note: I also talk about Fortnum and Mason teas in my Favorite Beverages From Abroad post! You can find some of their products on Amazon!
Back to teas! Fortnum & Mason has amazing teas and when you sit down for afternoon tea, you can choose any of them.
One example of an amazing tea is their Royal Blend black tea. It was first blended in 1902 for King Edward VII and uses Ceylon and Assam leaves. F&M call this the “Queen of All Teas.” (Who else got GOT vibes?)
Another example is The Wedding Breakfast, which was blended to commemorate the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William and supposedly integrates both their preferences. It is one of my favorite teas.
What to Expect at Fortnum & Mason
When you arrive and sit down, they’ll take your tea order and provide a menu. You can choose what type of sandwiches you’d like or choose between traditional afternoon tea, high tea, or savory high tea.
Your tea comes first after you’ve ordered.
Then, they’ll bring your three-tier structure of whatever you chose.. You start from the bottom and work your way to the top.
The food looks small at first! But you will totally be full!
Listen… Every. single. time.
Every SINGLE time I go for afternoon tea, I always doubt it’ll fill me up. I’m a foodie and I love eating but I’m always surprised how full I get. I usually slow down right after my first scone.
Side Tip: at Fortnum & Mason, you can have as many refills on sandwiches, scones, or any of the desserts as you want! (The servers tell you this at the beginning or at least ours did for us.)
The Menu
Fortnum & Mason’s Afternoon tea comprises of the following in their afternoon tea menu:
Sandwiches
- Ham and Mustard
- Cucumber
- Egg Mayonnaise
- Salmon
- Coronation Chicken (They are all amazing but this one is my absolute favorite!)
Scones
They serve plain and fruit scones, with a side of strawberry preserves, lemon curd, and clotted cream.
Tea & Desserts
On the top tier are traditional desserts. These are absolute treats you must try. One of them is what our server told us was the Queen’s favorite. Shown below, the dessert is filled with creme and is light with an edible flower on top!
Afternoon tea is one of my favorite things to do, period! I love afternoon tea and Fortnum & Mason has been one of my favorite London experiences. It’s in the middle of Piccadilly, near West End and Leicester Square and is such an amazing experience.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, tips or tricks! Do you love afternoon tea or have any recommendations or questions?
