Sandwiches, invented by the Earl of Sandwich, should be made with thin slices of bread with the crusts cut off (Presentation is very important at afternoon tea). Possible sandwich fillings include cucumber, tomato, egg and cress, smoked salmon, or fine pâté.
Welsh rarebit is a melted mixture of cheddar cheese, beer, Worcestershire sauce, English mustard and Tabasco served on toast. If it is topped with a poached egg it becomes a buck rarebit or a golden buck.
When it comes to choosing tea, familiarity tends to lead people to English Breakfast, but there are many other interesting varieties to choose from including Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, and Afternoon tea (a blend of Darjeeling and Ceylon tea). You can even blend your own teas, for example Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong.
Earl Grey is a citrus flavoured tea named after Charles Grey, the British prime minister from 1830 to 1834. In 1834, Charles sent a trade delegation to China. After a successful visit, the British were preparing to return when the son of a Chinese mandarin was saved from drowning by one of the British delegates. In grateful thanks, the mandarin sent a package of tea to Earl Grey. The Earl and Countess Grey became famous for their tea parties and their friends wished to acquire this unique blend of tea. The Earl wrote to the Chinese leader asking to purchase a further quantity, and so it was that Earl Grey tea came into existence. The Chinese used the essence of bitter orange blossoms, but most Earl Grey is made with bergamot (a pear shaped orange). It is a very light and refreshing tea which can be drunk with a little milk or a slice of lemon.
Assam tea is from the north eastern state of India, Assam, meaning 'peerless'. In 1834, the East India company established the first tea estate in Assam, which led to the birth and phenomenal growth of the tea industry in India. Assam is a full bodied tea, with a rich, smooth, malty flavour and a reddish colour. A favourite of those that like milk with their tea.
Ceylon tea has become very popular in the US. Tea became the principle crop of Ceylon after the coffee estates were destroyed by 'coffee rust' in 1869. Ceylon has a full bodied yet delicate, light and mellow flavour and a bright colour. It can be drunk black or with either a slice of lemon or a dash of milk.
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