Afternoon Tea Recipe

Afternoon Tea Sandwich

“Christopher Robin was home by this time, because it was the afternoon, and he was so glad to see them that they stayed there until very nearly tea-time, and then they had a Very Nearly tea, which is one you forget about afterwards, and hurried on to Pooh Corner, so as to see Eeyore before it was too late to have a Proper Tea with Owl.” — A.A. Milne

Afternoon tea is a charming English tradition that's not as common now, but it's still a great way to entertain. You don't have to stick to two sittings like Christopher Robin; the next time you want to meet friends, clients, or colleagues, consider serving finger sandwiches and scones!

When planning an afternoon tea menu, start with crustless sandwiches like coronation chicken or smoked salmon with avocado. However, you can get creative beyond bread. Consider options like shrimp empanadas, mini mango tarts, or ricotta and orange cannoli. For adults, you might add liqueurs to desserts—black forest cake with kirsch-soaked cherries is always a hit.

Make it even more special with a themed afternoon tea centered around an event or cuisine.

The timing is key; a mid-afternoon tea is perfect for bringing colleagues together at work or reuniting adults and kids at home after school pick-up in a relaxed setting.

One highlight is Coronation Chicken, created for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. It’s great for using leftover chicken, works well in sandwiches, and pairs nicely with rice and salad. Core flavors include curry powder, mango chutney or apricot jam, and either yogurt or mayonnaise.

Coronation Chicken Recipe – Serves 4

500g Cooked chicken (Shredded)

1 Onion (Finely chopped)

2 tsp Tomato puree

1 Tbsp Curry powder

1 Tbsp Lemon juice

2 Tbsp Mango chutney/Apricot jam

150 ml Mayonnaise/Yoghurt

125g Dried apricots (chopped)

30g Flaked almonds

Handful coriander

1. Sweat the onion in a little oil until soft and translucent.

2. Add the tomato puree and curry powder and cook for another minute.

3. Take off the heat and add the lemon juice, mayonnaise/yoghurt and mango chutney/apricot jam.

4. Mix to combine well and then add in the shredded chicken, dried apricots, almonds and coriander.

5. Combine all the ingredients and then allow to chill in the fridge for a couple of hours to allow the flavours to meld together.

6. Serve in a sandwich or wrap, or as a partner to rice and salad.