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LIGHT & DELICATE
afternoon teas
Afternoon loose leaf teas are blended for a different kind of moment — lighter than a morning brew, delicate enough to complement food rather than overwhelm it, and considered enough to make the pause feel genuinely special. Our collection ranges from the velvety, blackcurrant-touched Prince of Wales to the fragrant layered character of a French afternoon blend and the fruit-led richness of a Silk Road-inspired Samarkand tea.
afternoon teas
A Tradition Worth Keeping
Afternoon tea as a ritual has a long and specifically British history, and the blends made for it reflect that care. Where breakfast teas are built for impact and reviving power, afternoon teas are designed for a different purpose: lighter in body, gentler on caffeine, and chosen to sit alongside food rather than dominate it. The aim is to create a tea that complements the delicate flavours of a scone, a slice of cake or a biscuit — something that refreshes the palate rather than overwhelms it. That is a more considered brief than it might sound, which is why the finest afternoon teas tend to be among the most carefully crafted.
Flavour and Character
Three teas show the range within this collection well. Prince of Wales is the classic centrepiece — a blend of Assam and Ceylon black teas with a touch of green gunpowder and natural blackcurrant, producing a velvety, smooth and gently fruity cup with enough depth to feel satisfying but never enough weight to feel heavy. It has genuine royal history: first blended in 1921 as the favourite tea of Edward, Prince of Wales, who personally granted permission for it to carry his name. French Afternoon Tea — L'Heure du Thé — takes a more fragrant direction: vanilla, Earl Grey, lavender and jasmine combine in a blend that is elegant, aromatic and unmistakably French in character, a cup for those who want their afternoon pause to feel like a small occasion. Dammann Frères Fruits of Samarkand brings a different kind of intrigue: black and green teas blended with a medley of dried fruits, the name evoking the great Silk Road city and the extraordinary spice and fruit trade routes that once passed through it — a tea for curious palates.
Brewing Afternoon Tea
All three teas brew well with freshly boiled water and a steep of three to four minutes, adjusted to taste. Prince of Wales is best enjoyed without milk, where the blackcurrant and gunpowder notes come through most clearly, though a small amount suits it well if you prefer a rounder cup. French Afternoon Tea is best taken black so the lavender and jasmine are not masked; three minutes is ideal. Fruits of Samarkand rewards a slightly shorter steep of two to three minutes to keep the fruit notes bright and fresh rather than heavy.
These three give a clear sense of the collection, but the range extends further — from other classic afternoon blends to more fragrant and fruit-led options for every style of afternoon pause. Whether you are laying out scones and sandwiches or simply taking five minutes with a good book, there is an afternoon tea here to make the moment feel well spent.