00:00 Introduced to Britain in the early 1840s, it's neither lunch, supper or dinner, but
00:07 a distinct meal in itself. We have Anna the 7th, Duchess of Bedford, to thank for the
00:12 great British tradition of afternoon tea. Finding herself experiencing pangs of hunger
00:19 during the gap between meals, the Duchess began requesting tea and a snack in her bedroom.
00:26 She started inviting friends to join her in this at her rooms at Woburn Abbey. This she
00:31 continued after returning to London and the practice became increasingly popular amongst
00:37 the upper classes. The Botanic Tea Room in the Municipal Hotel on Dale Street offers
00:41 guests a mixture of sweet and savoury specialties, including fresh homemade pastries, finger
00:48 sandwiches, cakes and of course scones. So I've poured my tea and I've turned the timer
00:57 on so that I know when it's perfectly brewed. I am such a big fan of afternoon tea. It's
01:05 the pump, it's the ceremony, it's the little sandwiches, but I also like how it can be
01:11 as traditional or as non-traditional as you want to make it. If you want your finger sandwiches,
01:18 scones and little cakes, then that's great. But if you want to do something completely
01:24 different, that's okay too. I'm not sure if this is correct etiquette, but I always think
01:29 it starts with a savoury first. So it's a good place to start off, isn't it? And if
01:35 you're not a fan of English breakfast tea, well, you don't have to drink that. You can
01:39 have something completely different. Plus, let's face it, it's only really there to lubricate
01:43 the food going down. Of course, finger sandwiches are a traditional part of afternoon tea, but
01:48 many places serve things amongst that. Here, there's two little pastries. I've got to say
01:54 these little sausage roll wheels are so tasty. Next, we are onto mine and I think most people's
02:06 favourite part. It's a scone. Now, the question of course is, is it cream or is it jam first?
02:18 I am definitely a jam first or a scone kind of girl. And is there anything more indulgent
02:26 than lashings of clotted cream? Here we have some absolutely stunning cakes to go along
02:36 with the afternoon tea. Wow, those taste incredible. Afternoon tea, cream tea, high tea, whatever
02:45 you want to call it and however you wish to serve it. It has evolved over the years from
02:52 being a ritual amongst the upper classes to an occasional treat indulged in by many of
02:58 us. And I for one, always have time for this indulgent refreshment.
03:03 months.
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