Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3pm and 5pm. The custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. Various places that belonged to the former British Empire also have such a meal. However, changes in social customs and working hours mean that most Britons will rarely take afternoon tea, if at all. A formal afternoon tea is, nowadays, usually taken as a treat in a hotel, café or tea shop. In everyday life, many British take a much simpler refreshment consisting of tea and biscuits at teatime.
Thursday, the girls and I decided to treat ourselves to afternoon tea at the National Portrait Gallery Cafe. After a long week of classes it was well deserved and a delightful experience. From the actually tea itself to the sandwiches, scones, and dessert everything was delicious. I can easily see was this tradition has stuck in British culture. It was a great way to take a break from the day and relax with good friends and good food.
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