My Favorite Afternoon Tea Experiences

I couldn't study abroad in the UK without indulging in the classic afternoon tea experience! From Norwich to London, here are my favorites.

I wish the concept of afternoon tea existed in the US because it really is the perfect meal. Any time between noon and 5pm is the perfect time for afternoon tea and although I know there are some places in the US where you can find it, its not a cultural norm like it is in the UK. The tea is the perfect afternoon pick me up and the mini portions of food (which turn out to be quite a lot of food just in mini sizes) are perfect for someone like me who can never decide what to eat as I always want a bite of everything. Additionally, at most places, once you are done with your meal they offer to pack a box of any extra sandwiches or treats you want to take home, and I'm not talking about the food you left on your plate, were talking a box of fresh treats to take home included with the service. Afternoon teas, found in various restaurants, hotels, and cafes all over the country vary in price, degree of fanciness, and of course menu. I was lucky to have afternoon tea 7 times while I was there and I crave it more and more each day.

Sketch

It's difficult to choose a favorite afternoon tea because they were all so scrumptious, but if I had to choose one it would be Sketch in London. Located in London this is a much more expensive afternoon tea but there are levels to choose from that range in price depending on the add-ons they include like champagne. Sav and I got the basic afternoon tea in London together and it blew me away. From the pink interior to the gallery of art on the walls to the futuristic looking bathroom where each stall was its own pod, this was a completely unique afternoon tea experience. The basic afternoon tea came with a tiny caviar tasting which I thought was so fancy even if I wasn't in love with the flavor. To be honest, for the weight that caviar holds in the luxury food world, the flavor reminded me of when I jumped into the lake while camping and some of the water got in my mouth. I still loved trying it and can happily cross it off my bucket list! The tea menu was extensive with classics and their own unique blends to choose from. The platter of mini cakes, pastries, and tea sandwiches were decadent and with almost each bite I found myself closing my eyes to savor the delicious flavors I was tasting. My favorite were the mini truffle grilled cheeses wrapped in wax paper and tied with a yellow ribbon. I even saved the yellow bow as a souvenir. Afternoon teas are a relaxed and leisurely meal which I love because you get to appreciate your food without rushing, appreciate the company you're with, and the conversations you're having. The icing on the cake at Sketch was live string quartet that played classical pieces as well as instrumental versions of pop hits from artists like Ariana Grande.

Biddy's Tea Room

Biddy's Tea Room located on one of the cutest streets in Norwich has a very special place in my heart. The cozy, vintage ambiance makes you feel like you stepped into something from the Harry Potter world, a cafe in Hogsmeade perhaps. Inside you can tell from the architecture that you have just stepped into the past. This paired with the mismatched furniture and tea pots makes it such a charming spot for afternoon tea or even just a pot of tea and a scone or pastry. Because its a much smaller local place you must make a reservation (easy online) for afternoon tea so that they can reserve an hour for your meal. No need to make a reservation if you are just dropping in for a snack. With the Full Afternoon Tea you get to choose your tea, your finger sandwiches, scone, and cake from the menu and daily bakery selection. The tea sandwiches at Biddy's were my favorite out of all the others I tried. I chose the Norfolk ham chili jam and brie sandwich, Sav chose the stilton, apple, cider chutney and walnut sandwich and we shared them because it came with four each.

Hotel Cafe Royal

The Hotel Cafe Royal was another incredibly fancy and regal afternoon tea experience I had in London, this time with my mom, aunt Karen, and cousin Cassidy when they came for a visit. Walking in we were greeted by a host who even took our coats and hung them up for us but I was still in awe walking into the dining area as I gazed at the gilded ceiling and reflective mirrors lining the wall. It felt like we were in Beast's castle from "Beauty and the Beast". The menu, folded up complete with a wax seal rested on our plates when we arrived and contained another delicious afternoon tea menu. Most of the locations, like this one, had a set menu and different add-ons, so you could choose your tea but the food was predetermined (unless of course you had an allergy or dietary restrictions which they accommodated) whereas at Biddy's you have the ability to almost design your own. I love that each experience was unique from the interior design and ambiance to the actual food itself. The food of course was delicious like the others and I was thrilled when they packed up a box of fresh treats for us to take home at the end.

Maids Head Hotel

My first afternoon tea was at the Maids Head Hotel, my very first weekend in Norwich when I was still very unaware of where anything was located on campus or in the city. I hadn't even grocery shopped yet so after living off of the granola bars I packed for the first week it felt wonderful to have an actual meal. My former child-hood pen pal Raphel and his family coincidentally happened to be living right outside of Norwich while I was there and Christina, Raphel's mom generously offered to take me out for afternoon tea and show me around the city! Christina and her husband Cayman are friends with my step-dad who helped me to become pen-pals with Raphel when they were living in Italy. Raphel, who attends college in the states, was still home for December break so he was able to join as well. The Maids Head Hotel located in Tombland, a very medieval looking corner of the city right near the Norwich Cathedral, is one of the oldest hotels in the UK. Even with three people I was still so full by the end and we had leftovers to take home. Everything tasted divine but the scones especially were life-changing. There were plain scones and scones with raisins, both of which worked harmoniously with the combination of sweet jam and thick clotted cream. From that moment on I could've eaten eaten scones with jam and clotted cream and been happy as a clam. This afternoon tea was so special to me because it was my first time meeting Raphel and Christina in person. I was still getting accustomed to being in another country on my own so seeing a familiar face, someone I knew, to talk to me and take me around Norwich and even take me grocery shopping, made me begin to feel so comfortable and at home here. I ended up bring Julian and my friend Viviane to the Maids Head Hotel for afternoon tea because I loved it so much.