WHY I'M THE AFTERNOON TEA LADY | Baroness Bolsover
- Baroness Bolsover
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Welcome to my Victorian World!
THE ORIGINAL AFTERNOON TEA PARTY
I was there when the Victorians created this little Afternoon Tea tradition of dainty sandwiches, delicate pastries and tea served on our finest bone china at around 4 o clock in the afternoon.
Well, we had to eat something! By 4 o clock we were desperate for a few nibbles as dinner wasn't served until eight at the earliest! And nibbles it was for for we couldn't eat much wearing our tight corsets, and in any case, we were far more interested in the gossip!
I'll be honest, we Victorians weren't the first to enjoy a few light bites in the middle of the afternoon, heaven's no, the aristocracy had been enjoying this little ritual for years. HOWEVER, it was we Victorian ladies who called it an Afternoon Tea and made it a 'fashionable' event. And I'm thrilled to see it's become a most treasured tradition!
MORE THAN JUST A FEW NIBBLES
An Afternoon Tea became a social gathering where we could invite other ladies and discuss things out of the earshot of men. It also created an opportunity to 'be seen' in higher social circles. This meant everything back then. We were all trying to climb the social ladder to ensure a secure future for our families.
I feel I must point out, we did of course invite gentlemen to our larger tea gatherings. This provided the perfect opportunity for a little match-making. An Afternoon Tea was a pleasant environment in which you could introduce your daughter or niece to a possible young suitor.
DARE TO DISAGREE!
And of course it did help matters if you were liked. If you were seen to be 'utterly agreeable' at all times you'd find yourself invited to an Afternoon Tea every day of the week, how splendid is that! It was seen as poor manners to be over-opinionated in matters. Needless to say, I had to bite my tongue on several occasions!
Please note that when I say 'every day of the week' I'm not referring to weekends, for weekends were purely for the family. Monday to Friday however could be filled with Afternoon Teas. Now this often comes as a bit of a shock to many of you, but, one could visit MORE THAN ONE TEA PARTY A DAY! How splendid is that! Our Afternoon Tea gatherings were a drop in affair, if the conversation wasn't 'doing it' for you, make a polite excuse to the Hostess and MOVE ON!
HOW TO BE A GOSSIP WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING
Any talk about someone, present in the room or not, could be interpreted as 'gossiping'. Therefore, discretion at all times was essential! Heaven forbid you were referred to as 'a gossip', a most unattractive label which I somehow managed to avoid.
Baroness Bolsover's Tip:
We did of course love a good gossip and I can assure you the best way to get tongues wagging was simply to plant a few seeds. A casual mention of a name being seen with a certain 'somebody' was always a good start. And whilst we didn't actually whisper, we made sure we were not so loud as to be obvious.
It never ceased to amaze me how an innocent little comment soon can become idle gossip, quickly turning into juicy gossip and before you know it, a full blown scandal! We Victorians did like to embellish the facts somewhat. It made life so much more interesting!
I'm often asked at my 'Afternoon Tea Etiquette Presentation' what we gossiped about. Well, quite simply, WHO was seen doing WHAT with WHOM, WHERE, WHEN and WHY? Have things changed? I think not.
Baroness Bolsover's Tip 2:
If you wanted to gossip about someone in the room, you and your friend could use your fans to conceal your mouths. Whilst not being very inclusive... it was great fun!
MORE AMAZING FACTS WHY I'M THE AFTERNOON TEA LADY
The Tetley Tea Man
I was there in 1856 when Joseph Tetley formed Joseph Tetley & Company, Wholesale Tea Dealers, in Cullem Street, London. Mr Tetley would help us choose two or three teas which we would take home and mix together in our tea caddy bowls. We all had tea caddies back then which we kept under lock and key! Tea was very expensive. The tea blend we created would become the Hostess' Blend which would be offer to our guests. Making your own tea blend was an essential part of being a good Hostess.
The Squashed Fly Biscuit
I was there in 1861 when the Italian Revolutionary, Giuseppe Garibaldi, created the wonderful Garibaldi Biscuit. Some joke about the biscuit resembling squashed flies, but we absolutely adored this flat little pastry filled with raisins. You could nibble away at a Garibaldi all afternoon and feel utterly full! And please note... we never dunked our Garibaldi's. Nor any biscuit for that matter.
Don't even think about it!
The Pink and Yellow Cake
I was there in 1884 when the lovely Battenburg Cake was named to celebrate the marriage of Prince Louis of Battenburg to my Queen Victoria's granddaughter, Princess Victoria. We loved the pink and yellow colours of the cake which represented the colours of the Battenburg family flag.
The Great Yorkshire Tea
I was there in 1886 when Charles Taylor of Taylors of Harrogate created his tea company C. E. Taylor and Sons. I met Mr Taylor on a visit to London and he told me of his plans to create a tea blend that would take the world by storm. He was right of course. Most tea drinkers have heard of the great Yorkshire Tea Blend.
HOW TO HOST A BARONESS BOLSOVER-INSPIRED TEA PARTY
If you want to bring the spirit of Baroness Bolsover into your own home, here's how to do it. Trust me, you'll be the talk of the town!
Choose quality teas: Assam mixed with Darjeeling is always my favourite. You have the bold flavour of the Assam, which just happens to be one of the least expensive teas along with the delicate, exquisite taste of Darjeeling. It's not called the 'champagne of teas' for nothing! It does come at a price and that's why it's such a good idea to mix it with an Assam. Try mixing a few of your own teas to create your own Hostess Tea Blend.
Prepare traditional treats: Freshly baked scones, crustless finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings, and simple cakes like the wonderful Victoria Sponge Cake. Nothing too fancy. You simply cannot beat the smell of freshly baked food. That's the key to success.
Set a beautiful table: Use fine china, lace tablecloths, and fresh flowers to create an inviting setting. Keep the table and chairs set out in a relaxed style. We never sat around tables like at a dinner party. That was way too formal. The food was secondary to the company and conversation so keep it nice and casual.
Encourage conversation: Create a relaxed atmosphere as I've just outlined, and welcome every guest individually, introducing them to others in the room whenever possible.
Wearing a hat for Afternoon Tea is essential! Dress the part: Encourage guests to wear Victorian-inspired attire to add to the ambiance. This may seem a little extreme for some but it does make an occasion rather more special and very authentic. At least encourage ladies to wear a hat or a fascinator for we always wore our hats to an Afternoon Tea. Except for the Hostess that is. The Hostess had the privilege of wearing the revolutionary Tea Gown!
These steps will help you capture the elegance and warmth I brought to my tea parties and earned me the title THE VICTORIAN ATERNOON TEA LADY.
WHY BARONESS BOLSOVER STILL MATTERS TODAY
In this fast-paced world we find ourselves, I hope my Victorian way of life reminds us to slow down somewhat and savour the moment. And of course what better way to do this than over a nice cup of tea with friends... along with a few nibbles of course!
So why not start this little habit right now and go and put the kettle on!
Until next time my dear friends.
Yours Truly
