Quintessentially English Afternoon Tea Workshop

The morning starts at Caroline’s home in Notting Hill where you will learn how to brew the perfect tea. You will have the opportunity to taste and examine at least 20 different teas and compare the differences between origin and blended tea; learning to identify depth of flavour, the ‘briskness’, and the creaminess or astringency of the tea liquor. You will cover all the brewing basics such as correct water temperature, water quality and brewing times; and at the end you should be able to confidently identify many different types of black and green teas by their look, smell and taste.

Then it’s time to start baking (and tasting)! You will learn all of the skills you need to make and bake delicious cakes for a traditional English tea party. Caroline will share her secret recipes for the perfect Victoria Sponge cake, tasty traditional scones, and crumbly melt-in-the-mouth shortbread. You will also learn other skills and techniques that will allow you to make almost anything, from coffee and walnut fairy cakes to spicy winter biscuits.

We believe that afternoon tea should be fun! This afternoon will be dedicated to learning how to host the perfect tea party, and how to be a relaxed and confident hostess. You will learn some great tips on how to prepare and store food beforehand, those all-important dos and don’ts, and what your role as a hostess really encapsulates. Finally you shall relax and enjoy a tea party that you have created together, from preparing the sandwiches in advance to presenting your cakes on the tea table.

By the end of the day you will be able to confidently host your very own afternoon tea party, understand tea party etiquette, and learn to enjoy your own tea party as much as your guests will.