The History & Etiquette of Afternoon Tea (AT)

This Masterclass traces the history of Afternoon Tea back to tea's arrival in Europe in the 17th Century, and helps you understand the tradition of Afternoon Tea in British social life. The course can be accessed for 120 days from enrolment.

Buy £295.00

Course curriculum

1. Pre-course reading and recommendations
2. Understanding Afternoon Tea
3. Introduction to Module 1
4. Module handout: Lessons 1-7
1. The Portuguese and Dutch Establish Trade with China
2. East India Company Ships Carry Tea from China
3. Tea Arrives in London
4. Thomas Garraway
5. Revision: Lesson 1
1. 1662: The Influence of Royalty
2. Tea Drinking in Aristocratic Homes
3. 17th Century: the Closet at Ham House
4. Revision: Lesson 2
1. Learning to Drink Tea from the Chinese
2. How the English Brewed and Drank their Tea
3. What's on the Tea Table
1. A Symbol of Wealth and Status
2. Family Portraits Round the Tea Table
3. Tea after Dinner
4. Revision: Lessons 3 and 4
1. Tea For the Poorer Classes
2. Smuggled tea
3. How to Smuggle Tea
4. Adulterated Tea
5. Revision: Lesson 5
1. 18th Century Pleasure Gardens
2. Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
1. Trouble Brewing with China
2. The British Start Growing Tea in India
3. The First British Tea Gardens in Assam
4. Expansion of British Tea Gardens in India and Sri Lanka
5. British-grown tea
6. Revision: Lesson 7
1. Introduction to Module 2
2. Module handout Lessons 1-9
1. Cups of Tea in the Afternoon
2. The Introduction of Luncheon
3. The Duchess of Bedford
4. Fanny Kemble
5. Revision: Lesson 1
1. Upper Class Tea Parties
2. Tea Etiquette Develops
3. A Victorian Family Afternoon Tea
4. Tea in the Garden
5. Revision: Lesson 2
1. The Growth of the Middle Classes
2. Afternoon Tea Crosses the Class Barrier
3. Middle Class Afternoon Tea
4. Victorian Middle Class Afternoon Tea
5. Victorian Afternoon Tea in the Countryside
6. Black Tea For the British
7. Revision: Lesson 3
1. Dressing For Tea
2. Tea Gowns
3. Late 19th Century Tea Gowns
4. Early 20th Century Tea Gowns
5. 1920s and 30s Tea Gowns
6. Revision: Lesson 4
1. Temperance, Tea and Tearooms
2. The First Tearoom in London
3. Out to Tea
4. Country Tearooms
5. Tea and Women's Suffrage
6. Suffragist Teaware
7. Revision: Lesson 5
1. Dancing at Teatime
2. Tango Tea Dances
3. 1920s Tango Tea Dances
4. Tea Dances Today
5. Revision: Lesson 6
1. Three different Tea Occasions
2. Afternoon Tea
3. High Tea
4. Cream Tea
5. Revision: Lesson 7
1. Hotels
2. The Waldorf Hotel, London
3. Lyons and Bettys
4. Palm Courts
5. Country Tearooms
6. Revision: Lesson 8
1. Afternoon Tea More Popular Than Ever
2. Prêt-à-Portea
3. Prêt-à-Portea: The Dior Couture Collection
4. Cinderella
5. Art Deco
6. Chelsea Flower Show
7. Games
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
9. London
10. Valentine's
11. Science
12. Mad Hatter
13. Mary Poppins
14. Van Gough
15. London Bus Tour
16. Thames Cruise
17. Revision: Lesson 9
1. Introduction to Module 3
2. Module handout lessons 1-8
1. The Teapot in the 17th Century
2. Earthenware Teapots in the 17th and 18th Century
3. Porcelain Teapots in the 17th and 18th Century
4. Porcelains from Jingdezhen
5. English copies of Chinese pots
6. Chinese Teapots in Unusual Forms
7. English Teapots in Unusual Forms
8. Revision: Lesson 1
1. Chinese Tea Bowls
2. Blue and White
3. Not Just Blue and White
4. Japanese Tea Bowls
5. English Pottery copies Oriental designs
6. Tea Bowls Acquire a Handle
7. Revision: Lesson 2
1. Tea Jars
2. Silver Tea Jars
3. Tea Jars become Tea Canisters
4. Fruit-shaped Canisters
5. Tea Caddies
6. Tea Chests
7. Revision: Lesson 3
1. The Start of Matching Teaware
2. Bread and Butter with Tea
3. The Full Tea Set
4. Silver Tea Wares
5. Silver Kettles
6. Silver Urns
7. The display of tea things
8. Revision: Lesson 4
1. The First Tea Tables
2. Tray-Tables
3. Pie-Crust Tea Tables
4. Tilt-Top Tea Tables
5. Pembroke Tea-Tables
6. The Teapoy
7. Revision: Lesson 5
1. Caddy Spoons
2. Sugar Nippers
3. Teaspoons
4. The Etiquette of the Spoon
5. Mote Spoons, Strainers and Bells
6. Revision: Lesson 6
1. Tea Without Milk
2. Milk in Tea
3. Why Add Milk?
4. Milk Jugs and Creamers
5. The Cow Creamer
6. Tea Sets
7. Revision: Lesson 7
1. Cake Stands
2. Tea Knives, Spoons etc.
3. Pastry Forks
4. Muffin Dishes and Muffineers
5. Tea Cosies
6. Tea Hampers
7. Revision: Lesson 8
1. Introduction to Module 4
2. Module handout lessons 1-6
1. Two ways of Arranging a Tea Party
2. Guests seated in Armchairs and Sofas
3. Gentlemen Guests
4. Guests seated around a table
1. Guests seated in Armchairs and Sofas
2. Guests seated around the Dining Table
1. Side Plates
2. Cups, Saucers and Spoons
3. Placing the Cup and Saucer
4. Napkins
5. Tea Knives and Pastry Forks
6. The Cake Stand
7. How NOT to Set the Table: Example 1
8. How NOT to Set the Table: Example 2
9. How NOT to set the table: Example 3
10. How NOT to set the table: Example 4
11. Revision: Lesson 1, 2 & 3
1. When Guests Arrive
2. The Tea: what to offer
3. When to Serve the Tea
1. An Invitation to Tea
2. Dressing Appropriately
3. Gifts
4. How to Use the Napkin
5. How to Hold your Cup and Saucer
6. When to Add Milk
7. Sugar in Tea
8. How to Stir your Tea
9. Lemon in Tea
10. Revision: Lesson 4 & 5
1. Victorian Beginnings
2. Afternoon Tea Foods Today
3. The Sandwiches
4. Other Savouries
5. Clean Plates
6. The Scones
7. Clotted Cream
8. The Jam and Cream for the Scones
9. How to Eat Scones with Jam and Clotted Cream
10. How NOT to Serve and Eat Scones
11. Devon and Cornwall
12. Pastries and Cakes
13. Saying 'Thank You'
14. Revision: Lesson 6
1. Optional Question & Answer session with Jane Pettigrew

About this course

£295.00
204 lessons
0 hours of video content

The History & Etiquette of Afternoon Tea (AT)

Course curriculum

Module 1: How Britain became a Nation of Tea Drinkers

Module 1, Lesson 1: Tea first arrives in Europe

Module 1, Lesson 2: Tea for Royalty and Aristocrats

Module 1, Lesson 3: The English Tea Ceremony develops

Module 1, Lesson 4: 18th Century - Tea becomes an Upper Class luxury

Module 1, Lesson 5: Tea for the poorer classes

Module 1, Lesson 6: Tea as part of British social life

Module 1, Lesson 7: The British start growing tea in India

Module 2: The Beginning of Afternoon Tea

Module 2, Lesson 1: Tea fills a gap

Module 2, Lesson 2: Victorian Tea Parties

Module 2, Lesson 3: Afternoon Tea for all classes

Module 2, Lesson 4: Fashion and Afternoon Tea

Module 2, Lesson 5: Temperance, Tearooms and Women's Suffrage

Module 2, Lesson 6: Tea Dances

Module 2, Lesson 7: Three different tea occasions

Module 2, Lesson 8: 20th Century Afternoon Tea

Module 2, Lesson 9: Afternoon Tea Today

Module 3: British Tea Wares and how they Developed

Module 3, Lesson 1: The Teapot

Module 3, Lesson 2: Tea Bowls

Module 3, Lesson 3: Tea Storage

Module 3, Lesson 4: Tea Sets and Silver

Module 3, Lesson 5: Tea Tables

Module 3, Lesson 6: Tea Spoons

Module 3, Lesson 7: Milk Jugs and Creamers

Module 3, Lesson 8: Cake Stands, Cutlery, Cosies and Tea Hampers

Module 4: The Etiquette of Afternoon Tea

Module 4, Lesson 1: Two Ways of Arranging a Tea Party

Module 4, Lesson 2: Hosting an Afternoon Tea Party

Module 4, Lesson 3: How to Set the Table - Do's and Dont's

Module 4, Lesson 4: Etiquette for the Host

Module 4, Lesson 5: Etiquette for Everyone

Module 4, Lesson 6: Afternoon Tea Foods

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About this course