Pretty Presents

One thing that I pride myself on is my gift wrapping.  I love to wrap pretty gifts.  It is all about finding the right paper and the right ribbon.  Luckily, most morts do not have the same taste in wrapping paper as I do which makes after holiday shopping a breeze and I usually find some wonderful bargains.

Below are some examples.  It does take a fair amount of time but I believe it is completely worth it!

(Notice that I always use Krampus gift tags!)

You can never go wrong with a black and white striped ribbon!

Black, Silver and Red.  A perfect color combination.

 

Teal and Brown are a favorite of mine - Blog colors!

 Black 'wallpaper' and dark Green ribbon are also a perfect pair!

 

A nice green with a black pin stripe and a black tulle ribbon.

Holiday Catch Up

Oh, I promised myself I would get caught up with all my holiday posts by mid-January, and then by the 3rd week of January.  My new goal - 1st week of February.  There is just so much happening at once.

Besides the everyday chores of the tea room, I am:
Making a new Edwardian apron
Making some new tea cozies
Prepping Mr. Fleam for his appearance at Days of the Dead Atlanta
Planning a Tea & Scone tasting in mid-February

So many things keeping me away from my blog but I promised myself to set aside some every other day and do some catch up.

I'll start with my little Bat Rabbit's Tea Room Christmas Tree.  It wasn't much and part of the decorations were hand made but I was rather proud of it.

I was feeling rather crafty that day and decided to add some new skull and bat decor....

I used some of my favorite black and white paper to punch out some bats. 

Then I simply attached them to black pipe cleaners.

They made a wonderfully different tree topper!

I also used one of my skull punches (one can never have too many skull punches) to make a tree garland.

 I added some adhesive squares to the back and added a strip of fancy black ribbon.

And viola, tree garland!

I am hoping for a larger tree next year but space is a commodity in the tea room so I am not holding my breath.

Bat Rabbit's Menu Keepers

There are always a few staples on the menu.  Those things that you think patrons would get tired of but instead they just keep ordering them.  They are called keepers.

Here are two of Bat Rabbit's Keepers.

A favorite at Bat Rabbit’s is the Mini Lemon Tarts.  Since they are not made with the traditional lemon curd, they are a much lighter treat.

Mini Lemon Tart Recipe

I admit it.  I hate making any type of crust.  Luckily, in the super markets these days, you can usually find frozen tart shells of all sizes.  I’ll use them every chance given to me.   

Lemon Filling:
15 oz.  sweetened condensed milk
1   tube frozen lemonade
12 oz.  whipped cream

Place all filling ingredients into a bowl and with a wooden spoon stir, and stir, and stir, and stir.  Once most of the lumps have disappeared, stir a little more.  Place your prepared mini-tart shells on a cookie sheet.  Cram as many on there as you can.  Fill each shell with the lemon filling.  Place the cookie sheet with the lemon tarts in the refrigerator for the filling can thicken up.

Traditional English Trifle

One of the easiest and most versatile Tea treats is the traditional English trifle.

Begin with a large footed bowl.  Then alternate layers of sponge or pound cake, egg custard or pudding, sliced strawberries and whipped cream covered with slivered almonds. Repeat each layer until the bowl is filled.

Custard and pudding flavors may be changed to taste as well as seasonal berries.

Cream for Scones

Once you have scones, you must provide cream and jam.  I confess, I do not make my own jam.  I buy the the best quality, seedless fruit jam.  I am partial to raspberry myself.  Cream, on the other hand, can be more of a challenge here in the states.  Being the tea rebel that I am, I prefer to whip up some good ole' thick whipping cream for my scones but there are others who are more traditional.  For them, I do try to provide a more 'proper' cream.

Below are several recipes.  They each have a different consistency and taste.  Your best bet is try them all and then determine which you prefer.

Clotted Cream / Devon Cream

When speaking or reading of tea, you will see many references to Clotted Cream and Devon Cream.  Basically, Clotted Cream contains a minimum of 55% milk fat, while Devon Cream's fat content is lower at 48% milk fat. Devon Cream comes from the cows of Devon, England.  The true articles can be a bit ticky to get in the states but there are many recipes on how to ‘fake’ them.  Use can use the same recipes for both types of creams.  The difference is in the fat content only.

Recipe #1 - Easy

• 1 c heavy cream
• 1 c sour cream
• 1 t vanilla
• 4 T confectioner's sugar

      Mix together sour cream and vanilla.

1. Beat cream in a cooled bowl. When have medium-stiff peaks, sprinkle on sugar and continue to beat. When sugar is integrated and peaks are stiff, gently fold in sour cream/vanilla mixture.

Recipe #2 - Easy

• (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• pinch salt
• 1 cup heavy cream

In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese, sugar and salt. Beat in cream until stiff peaks form. Chill until serving.  

Original recipe makes 2 cups

Recipe #3 – Time Consuming

2 cups heavy cream

1. Cook cream in top of double boiler over simmering water until reduced by about half. It should be the consistency of butter, with a golden "crust" on the top.
2. Transfer, including crust, to bowl. Cover and let stand 2 hours, then refrigerate at least 12 hours.
3. Stir crust into cream before serving. Keep unused portions refrigerated, tightly covered, for up to 4 days.

Makes about 1 cup.

Recipe #4 (Alton Brown’s) – Time Consuming

      2 cups pasteurized (not ultra-pasteurized) cream

      Set a coffee filter basket, lined with a filter, in a strainer, over a bowl. Pour the cream almost

      to the top of the filter. Refrigerate for 2 hours. The whey will sink to the bottom passing 

      through the filter leaving a ring of clotted cream. Scrape this down with a rubber spatula and 

      repeat every couple of hours until the mass reaches the consistency of soft cream cheese.

Bat Rabbit's Super Secret Scone Recipe

Scones are a must.  They must be light with a crumble but they must keep there shape.  I have spent many years perfecting my scone recipes.  The the first time EVER, I am sharing it.

Scones are traditionally served with afternoon tea and accompanied by jam and clotted cream. You can add a variety of treats into the batter, such as raisins, fresh apple bits, orange peel, cranberries, and chocolate chips, although I prefer plain. At Bat Rabbit’s, we usually serve raspberry, currant or strawberry seedless jam and fresh whipped cream with our scones.

The secret Bat Rabbit’s Basic Scone Recipe

• 4 cups of self-rising flour
• 2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 sticks cold, unsalted butter
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and baking soda.  

With fingertips, rub butter into flour mixture until it resembles fine bread crumbs.  

With fork, stir in cream, vanilla and almond to form a soft dough. 

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1” thick.  

Cut into 2” rounds.  

Arrange on a greased baking sheet.  

Brush with additional heavy cream and sprinkle generously with confectioner’s sugar.  

Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 18-24 scones.

Bat Rabbit's Tea Sandwiches

I am reviewing the menu's here at Bat Rabbit's so over the next few days, I thought I would share some of our more common (and secret) recipes!

I'll start with the all important Tea Sandwich.

Tea sandwiches are traditionally delicate sandwiches sliced small enough to be picked up with the fingers or a pair of sandwich tongs. Teas sandwiches can be cut into triangles or rectangles. White, rye or wheat bread, with the crusts cut off, can be used for these sandwiches.

CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

1. Cut crusts off of the bread and cut into triangles, butter both sides of the bread.
2. Cut seedless cucumber (sold in gourmet supermarkets, always wrapped in cellophane) into very thin slices, and place between bread slices.
3. Garnish if desired.

TUNA SANDWICHES

1. Mix tuna salad and season as desired.
2. Spread on prepared slices of bread. You may add thin slices of cucumber if desired along with garnish.

EGG SANDWICHES  ***

1. Mix egg salad and season as desired.
2. Spread on slices of prepared bread.
3. Add thin slices of cucumber if desired, along with garnish.

WATERCRESS SANDWICHES

1. Spread cream cheese on prepared slices of bread.
2. Rinse and dry watercress and lay between slices of bread.
3. Garnish if desired.

CHICKEN SANDWICHES  ***

1. Mix chicken salad and season as desired.
2. Spread on slices of prepared bread.
3. Add thin slices of cucumber if desired, along with garnish.

TURKEY SANDWICHES  ***

1. Spread herbed cream cheese on prepared slices of bread.
2. Lay thin slices of turkey between the slices of bread.
3. Garnish if desired.

*** Some of Bat Rabbit’s Favorites.

Tea Etiquette – Protocols

At the end of each description, you will see my notes marked with **A.L.W.**. While these are ideals that are described, it is rarely seen in daily practice, especially at Bat Rabbit's.

Teapot and Pourer

The tea pot and tea kettle are placed with the spout facing the hostess.

Tea should be served by the host/hostess or a friend, never a servant.

Do not pour multiple cups at a time and pass several cups at a time. Guests should take their cup directly from the server.

**A.L.W.** - At Bat Rabbit’s, either I serve the tea or it is self serve.  And yes, I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey!

Utensils

When in doubt, use the utensils from the outside towards the inside of the place setting.

A petit knife and fork may be used together for use on an open face sandwich, preferably not on a closed sandwich. If savories are properly made, nothing will be dripping or gooey. However, with the fun of non-traditional foods now served on Afternoon Tea menus, this is not always the case. A petit knife and fork is proper for use with one’s pastries.

Never place used utensils on a cloth or table. When not in use rest the utensil on the right side of the corresponding plate.  Use a knife rest if it is provided.

**A.L.W.** - You will never have to worry about a ‘petit knife and fork’ at Bat Rabbit’s.  Everyone has good ole regular knives and forks available any time they need them.

Napkins

When excusing oneself from the table, whether during or after a dining experience, is proper to place one’s napkin to the left side of your place setting not in your chair. This rule is not negotiable for the simple reason if one’s napkin were soiled it could damage the seat covering, damage that may be either costly to repair or irreplaceable. While the risk for soiling a cloth also exists, the cloth can be washed with relative ease.

Upon completion of a dining experience, a napkin folded with a crease and placed to the left side of your place setting.  That indicates to your host or hostess that you wish to be invited back.

The host or hostess picks up his or her napkin to signal the end of the tea. He or she makes certain all of the guests have finished before making this move.

**A.L.W.** - I’m lucky if the napkin has not been kicked to an unrecoverable spot under the table.

Making the Tea

Heat the teapot with boiling water first, the pour it out, leaving an

empty hot teapot.

Then place the tea leaves in the teapot. The amount of tea used is dependent on the quality and quantity of tea.

Pour boiling water in the pot. Let it diffuse for five to eight minutes.

To serve different "strengths" of tea from the same pot, pour half tea, half boiling water into the cups of those who prefer their tea weak.

Note:

When tea has to stand a long time, the ideal way is to make a strong infusion in a big kettle on the stove.  Let the tea actually boil three to four minutes on the range, then pour it through a sieve or filter into your hot teapot. The tea will not become bitter, and it does not matter if it gets quite cold.  The boiling water poured over no more than the tablespoonful of such tea will make the drink hot enough. 

**A.L.W.** - We serve it by the pot in one strength.  You get used to it..

Milk and Lemon

First, milk is served with tea, not cream. Cream is too heavy and masks the taste of the tea.

But the real question is do you add the milk first or last?  This is hotly debated in many tea circles.  Here is my opinion.  Milk is poured after the tea. Don't put the milk in before the tea because then you cannot judge the strength of the tea by its color.

Where did this old milk-first tale come from? Samuel Twining has theorized that milk first prevented early china from cracking in reaction to the hot water.

Thinly sliced lemons are preferable to lemon wedges.  Lemon should be placed on a dish near the milk and sugar. A lemon fork (with splayed tines) or a similar serving utensil is provided. The tea pourer or the tea drinker can then put a slice directly into the poured cup of tea.

Should you desire another cup of tea, remove the slice of lemon from your cup and place it in a waste bowl and then pour your tea. You may then add a fresh lemon slice.

Never:

•     Add lemon with milk since the lemon's citric acid will cause the proteins in the milk to curdle.
•     Put the lemon slice in the cup before pouring the tea.
•     Placing a lemon slice on the edge of the saucer in anticipation of adding it later.
•     Transfer the lemon slice from the cup of tea to the saucer.
•     Use the spoon to press the lemon slice after you place it in the cup. Untouched, the oil from the peel and the juice from the fruit will provide the desired essence.

**A.L.W.** - Lemon only on request and it will be in wedges and served with a regular spoon and fork, sorry. 

How to Drink Tea

Originally, all porcelain teacups were made in China.  These small cups had no handles. In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel was to place one's thumb at the six o'clock position and one's index and middle fingers at the twelve o'clock position, while gently raising one's pinkie up for balance.

In Europe, when the Meissen Porcelain Company, in 1710, introduced the handle to the teacup, the tradition continued. By placing one's fingers to the front and back of the handle, called pinching the handle with one's pinkie extended downward or to the side, pinkie up, again allows balance. It is not an affectation, but a graceful way to avoid spills.

Never:

• Loop your fingers through the handle.
• Use your tea to wash down food.
• Slurp.
• Wash food down with your tea, always swallow completely before continuing.
• Swirl your tea as if it were wine in a glass.

**A.L.W.** - Just about anything goes at Bat Rabbit’s just don’t break my cups.

Stirring Tea in a Cup

      Stirring a cup of tea is done gently and noiselessly. Do not allow the teaspoon to touch the sides or rim of the cup. Remove the spoon and place it on the saucer behind the cup, with the handle of the spoon pointing in the same direction as the handle of the cup. Visualize the face of a clock on the saucer and properly place the handle of the cup and the handle of the spoon at four on the clock.

Never:

●        Leave a spoon upright in the cup.

●        Place the spoon on the saucer in front of the cup.

●        Make unnecessary noise by touching the sides of the cup with the spoon while stirring.

●        Let the spoon drop, after stirring the tea, with a clank onto the saucer.

**A.L.W.** - This just makes me laugh!

How to Eat a Scone

      It is improper to slice a scone horizontally to be slathered in jam and cream. 

The correct manner in which one eats a scone is to place the jam and cream you will be using onto your plate. From that, apply just enough jam and cream on the scone for a single bite.

A fork may or may not be used to eat a scone. No dipping.

Never use your own utensils to dip into the jam or cream dish.

**A.L.W.** - I never go through the trouble of slicing a scone in half.  Once the scone, cream and jam have been regulated to your plate, have at it any way you wish.  Preferably, I dip my scone in the whipped cream.  I am such a rebel.

Lollipops!

Last fall, when I hosted one of the Bat Rabbit's Halloween Teas, I had the brilliant idea of making homemade  lollipops as favors.  They turned out to be much easier than I anticipated.  Here is the basic recipe I followed:

2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup (I used clear Kyro syrup)

¾ cup water

1 dram  candy flavoring  (I used LorAnn Apple flavor)

½ tsp. food coloring (I used the coloring I already had and added it until I was happy with the color.)

Prep lollipop sticks on a silpat and/or parchment paper (wax paper will NOT work) covered cookie sheet.  Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in 2 qt. saucepan.  Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.  Bring mixture to boil without stirring.  When syrup temperature reaches 260 degrees Fahrenheit, add color.  Do not stir; boiling action will incorporate color into syrup.  Remove from heat at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.  After boiling action ceases, stir in flavoring – avoid rising steam when stirring.  Free form pour the syrup by the spoonful over lollipop sticks.  

The most important thing is to watch the temperature and follow the instruction to a tea (see what I did there).

I wanted to make these cute little green monter'ish lollipops.  I used a neon green food coloring and candy eyes.

First, I laid out the lollipop sticks and eyes that will need to put on the lollipops.

I do not have any pictures of me actually cooking up the mixture.  I had to pay close attention to what was going on in order not to burn either the candy nor me.  Sorry about that.  

You can get an idea of how I poured the hot candy over the sticks in the photo below.  Once all the lollipops had been poured, I immediately placed the eyes on the lollipops.  While all the ones below have two eyes, I also had some with one and a few with three eyes.

Once the lollipops hardened, I placed them in clear bags and tied a lovely contrasting black ribbon around the bottom to close them.

I thought they turned out right well!

Three Tiered Curate Stand

I almost forgot one of the pivotal serving pieces in my previous entry.  I don't know how I could have forgotten....

Another serving piece that is commonly used with Afternoon Tea is the three-tier Curate Stand.  It is especially useful for a small tea of two to three people.  As with everything else, it follows a specific propriety when being used for tea.

The top tier is for scones.

The protocol of placing the scones on the top tier is due to the fact that during the 1800s when Afternoon Tea first became popular, and modern conveniences did not exist, a warming dome was placed over the scones. The dome would only fit on the top tier.

The middle tier is for Savories and Tea sandwiches.

The bottom tier is for the sweets.

At the progression of each course, service would be provided to remove each tier.

**A.L.W.** - Service provided to remove each tier?  I suggest you simply move to the next tier at your convinence and don’t you dare tear my stand apart layer by layer.

Tea Etiquette – Setting the Table

There are some basics that need to be followed, at least loosely, when it comes to setting up tea service.  Below are the main three set-up's typically seen.  At the end of each description, you will see my notes marked with **A.L.W.**.   While these are ideals that are described, it is rarely seen in daily practice, especially at Bat Rabbit's

Basic Equipment

• Teapot
• Tea strainer
• Creamer for the milk
• Sugar bowl with sugar tongs
• Kettle for hot water
• Plate for lemon slices arranged on a wooden or tin tray
• Teacups and saucers
• Utensils for each person: butter knife, fork and teaspoon                          (Optional: spoon, dessert spoon, dessert fork, knife rest)
• Plates
• Napkins
• Platters for food

Buffet Tea

• The tea tray is placed at one end of the table. 


• To the right of the tea tray, set out the necessary number of cups, saucers and teaspoons to accommodate each of your guests.


• Plates, flatware, and napkins are placed on the left.


• Platters of cakes, pastries, cookies, tea sandwiches and nut breads are also placed to the right of the tray on the table.

**A.L.W.** - You put everything down where you can find a space for it.  Do try to keep things close to one another: the scones with the jam and cream, the tea with the milk and sugar, plates with the napkins and utensils.  Just do your best.

Informal Tea Table Setting         

When seated at a table in a private home or in a tearoom, there should be at each place setting:

• A knife or butter spreader on the right side of the plate. 


• A napkin to the left OR a fancy folded napkin to be placed in the center of the place setting. 


• A fork on the left side, on top of the napkin (if appropriate). 


• A teaspoon may be placed on the saucer holding the cup or to the right of the knife.

**A.L.W.** - This is pretty normal, although Bat Rabbit’s has the Buffet Tea 75% of the time.

Formal High Tea Table Setting

• A folded cloth napkin to the left.  The napkin should be folded with the closed edge to the left and the open edge to the right, no exceptions.  This rule applies for rectangular, triangular, and square shape folds.


• A fork on top of the napkin. 


• The waste bowl and bread plate, if provided, appear at the upper left of your plate. 


• On the right side of your plate: the butter knife, serrated edge facing in, along with a spoon, a teaspoon. 


• The teacup and saucer go on the right, to the right side of the utensils. 


• Also if provided, directly above your luncheon plate you will see the special dessert fork and spoon, facing different directions, with the dessert plate right above them. 


• The water glass is placed above the knife.

I so wanted to show you a picture of a formal tea setting but alas, it seems they are indeed very rare in the modern age.  I could not find a single one.  I found several formal table settings but they were lacking the tea cup, saucer and tea spoon.  Maybe I need to set a formal tea table at Bat Rabbit's just for the reference photo.

**A.L.W.** - This all sounds wonderful.  Maybe one day I will actually attend one but it probably will not be at Bat Rabbit's.

House Blend Teas

 Bat Rabbit's offers a selection of custom mixed teas for all palates.

 These are some of my favorites!

High Tea vs. Low Tea

One of the most misunderstood concepts in tea service is the difference between High Tea and Low Tea.

Most people have a set idea of what English High Tea means: formal dresses, delicate finger foods, and hot tea served on the best china. That could not be further from the truth.

There are two types of tea time in England:

    Low Tea or Afternoon Tea

    High Tea or Meat Tea

Afternoon Tea or Low Tea is what people picture when they think of tea time: tea served with light snacks such as crustless sandwiches, crumpets and scones. This custom originated among the upper classes, as they had both the time and the money to have an extra meal between lunch and dinner. Low Tea is traditionally served at 4pm. Most Tea Houses today serve Low Tea between 3pm and 5pm. 

 

High Tea, on the other hand, is a full meal served with tea, including meat, bread, side dishes and dessert. The custom of high tea originated in working class homes, where it was the main meal of the day. Working class people did not have time for a leisurely round of snacks and gossip between lunch and dinner. They were working. Tea time for them meant an early supper, served as soon as possible after work. High Tea is traditionally served in the early evening, 5pm – 7pm. 

How in the world did the names ‘High’ and ‘Low’ get associated with tea times? It is all about furniture height. 

"Low Tea", being more of a social event, was usually taken in a sitting room or withdrawing room where low tables were placed near chairs and sofas. 

Whereas “High Tea” was a more substantial meal and eaten at a high dinner table. 

Ironically, most people, including American hotels and tea rooms, tend to say “High Tea” when they are really referring to Low Tea. They associate the word “High” with class rather than serving tables.

Krampus Crafts

One fun Krampus decoration I made and used over the holidays was the pipe cleaner Krampus.  Not only are they versitile and inexpensive favors to give away but they can be used with almost anything. 

  

Evidently, Krampus is a fan of shortbread.

  ... and a nice pot of tea.

   

 This wonderful little piece of ingenuity comes from one of my favorite Krampus blogs called 

krampuslauf philadelphia.  

If you are a Krampus fan, there blog is a must read!

Bat Rabbit's Business Cards

Mr. Fleam procured business cards for Bat Rabbit's.

I like them. Thank you Mr. Fleam

A little bit of Tea History

Bat Rabbit's is above all things, a lovely little tea room based on the Tea Rooms that have been and continue to be so popular in England.  With that in mind, I thought some of you might like a short, quick history lesson on how tea became so popular in Britain.

History of Tea

17^th Century

In 1600 Queen Elizabeth l granted permission for the charter of the British East India Company on December 31, 1600 to establish trade routes, ports, and trading relationships with the Far East, Southeast Asia, and India Trade in spices.  The tea trade didn’t begin until the late 1670s.

East India Company Coat of Arms

In the 1660’s, King Charles II, while in exile, married the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza. Catherine's dowry was the largest ever registered in world history. Portugal gave to England two million golden crusados, Tangier and Morocco in North Africa, Bombay in India, and also permission for the British to use all the ports in the Portuguese colonies in Africa, Asia and the Americas thus giving England their first direct trading rights to tea.

Catherine de Braganza

(November 25, 1638 - December 31, 1705)

As Charles had grown up in the Dutch capital, both he and his Portuguese bride were confirmed tea drinkers. When the monarchy was re-established, they brought this foreign tea tradition to England with them. Her influence made tea more popular amongst the wealthier classes of society, as whatever the royals did, everyone else wanted to copy. Soon tea mania spread swept across England, and it became the beverage of choice in English high society, replacing ale as the national drink.

King Charles II

(May 29, 1630 - February 6, 1685)

The reign of Charles II was crucial in laying the foundations for the growth of the British tea trade. The East India Company was highly favored by Charles II. Charles confirmed its monopoly, and also extended it to give the Company unprecedented powers to occupy by military force places with which they wished to trade.

18^th Century

By 1700, tea was on sale by more than 500 coffee houses in London. Tea drinking became even more popular when Queen Anne chose tea over ale as her regular breakfast drink.

Queen Anne 

(March 8,1702 – May 1,1707)

During the second half of the Victorian Period, known as the Industrial Revolution, working families would return home tired and exhausted. This lead to the invention of “high” tea, although that name was not used, in contrast with what would become known as “low” tea. 

Cotton Mill Spinning Room

19^th Century

According to legend, one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope, known as the Duchess of Bredford, is credited as the creator of afternoon or “low” teatime. Because the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess suffered from "a sinking feeling" at about four o'clock in the afternoon.

Anna Maria Stanhope, Duchess of Bedford 

(1783-1858)

At first the Duchess had her servants sneak her a pot of tea and a few breadstuffs.  After awhile, she invited friends to join her for the additional afternoon meal at five o'clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea. This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for "tea and a walking the fields."   

Likewise, this idea was copied by other hostesses and serving tea became a common thread for almost all families in England.

And now it is time for my tea.

Ta-Ta!