Afternoon tea makes a comeback thanks to the snap
It might be perceived as a bygone quirk of old-fashioned British quaintness but afternoon tea is seeing a resurgence among the Instagram generation.
Restaurants, cafes, and hotels are enjoying a boom in bookings while hamper sales offering scones, finger sandwiches and tea from China cups are soaring.
A recent survey for online tea shop Jing Tea, found out of 2,000 25-34 year-olds 860 or 43 per cent had celebrated their birthday with afternoon tea.
Meanwhile supermarkets such as Waitrose have reported searches for afternoon tea had increased by 600 percent while sales of hampers at Marks & Spencer are up 80 per cent year on year.
Restaurants and hotels are enjoying a boom in bookings for afternoon tea - thanks to a new generation of younger fans (stock image)
The late Queen Elizabeth having afternoon tea with Paddington Bear in June 2022 during her Platinum Jubilee
Tea sommeliers believe the trend stems from new themes which photograph well on social media - including Paddington Bear and Peter Rabbit.
Sarah Taylor, product developer for hampers at M&S, told The Observer: 'Customers don't just see afternoon tea as a tradition; it's an opportunity to take a moment to ourselves.'
While Ben Warner, founder of Benugo, which runs cafes at museums and galleries added the 'colourful cakes, elegant teapots and even a celebratory glass of bubbles' are photogenic.
But the Royal Family also helped bring the British tradition back to the forefront after the late Queen appeared on television having afternoon tea with Paddington Bear in June 2022 for her Platinum Jubilee.
Mr Warner added: 'We noticed a huge spike in people seeking to book afternoon tea during, and after, the Queen's jubilee in 2022 and King Charles's coronation in 2023, and not just from overseas visitors.
'Since then, major uplifts have included Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.'
As afternoon tea pours once more into the public consciousness there is a swirling debate over whether, if at all, the ingredients need to be updated and revised.
Traditionalists cite Queen Victoria arguing for bland cakes, with the introduction of spring onion sandwiches at Claridge's leaving food historian Annie Gray 'apoplectic with rage'.
But modernists want cocktails, cold meats and even hummus included.
Related articles
I hoarded so many items people called me 'Skip Man' and I was scared to walk around my house
A reformed hoarder once had so many possessions he was barely able to move in his home - and said he2024-05-22Iran reiterates commitment to IAEA cooperation
Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami reaffirmed on Wednesday the country's commitment to nuc2024-05-22Soccer jersey dispute between Algeria and Morocco clubs over Western Sahara goes to sports court
GENEVA (AP) — A soccer politics dispute between Algeria and Morocco over a map of disputed Western S2024-05-22Pennsylvania nurse who gave patients lethal or possibly lethal insulin doses gets life in prison
A Pennsylvania nurse who administered lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin to numerous pati2024-05-22Your blood will boil! People share the mildly infuriating things that ruined their days
One small thing going wrong can end up ruining someone's day as these people know all too well. Soci2024-05-226 new plant species discovered in China's Guangxi
Six new plant species have been discovered in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, ac2024-05-22
atest comment