Classic British | The Indispensable Part of Afternoon Tea - Scones

British food is often referred to as “dark cuisine” which might give people a wrong impression that the Brits don’t have any delicious food to eat. Although traditional British cuisine may not be popular with the general public, the traditional British Afternoon Tea has always been hugely popular among Hong Kong people! Just as we go to restaurants for Yum Cha (drinking tea), the tea is actually not our main focus but the delicious Dim Sum, and the nice cuisine is the biggest driving force to make us visit the restaurant. Apart from enjoying the aroma of British tea, the most anticipated part of British afternoon tea is the delicate Three-Tier Petit Four Stand desserts.

British style Afternoon Tea originated from the Victorian era. At that time, Great Britain was at the peak of the industrial revolution and the development of culture and art. The nobles were eager to pursue a higher quality of life and social activities which result in the refined afternoon tea drinking habit that was gradually formed among the nobles. This trend was later merged into ordinary people’s life and has become an elegant and pleasant British afternoon tea culture ever since.

The formal English afternoon tea is exquisite, and the three-tier Petit Four Stand finger foods which attract people's attention should be meticulous from food material selection to arrangement. The bottom part shall place a variety of small pieces of sandwiches; the middle part shall be fresh scones with clotted cream and jam while the upper layer is ready for some exquisite delicious cakes, fruit tarts, macarons and so on. The traditional tea selections to go with this tea set are Darjeeling tea, Ceylon tea, earl grey, British tea and Assam tea. If you want to enjoy a high-end English Afternoon Tea experience, you can choose to pair it with a cup of Champagne to add new flavor while paying attention to details.

When we have deeper understanding of these luxurious afternoon tea desserts, we know that the scone in the middle layer is the indispensable part of British afternoon tea. Scones are one of the most quintessential traditional British desserts. Its delicate appearance and soft aromatic taste makes it the perfect dessert for the tea lovers in the UK.

How to Eat British Scones Correctly?

The way of eating scones is simple yet historical. There once was a time in the British history that people from two different places argued about the method of eating scones, they even required the British government to set up a law to make sure that their hometown’s way is the most original way. People from Devon argue that the best way to enjoy scones is to put on the Clotted Cream first then add jam. However, people from Cornwall didn’t agree with it and think that if they don’t spread the jam first, it feels like eating the cream cake which they can just walk to a shop and enjoy. Both of the people in Devon and Cornwall have their own opinions and no one is willing to give in, but for the non-British people, there is no such thing as the most correct way of eating scones. You can do it according to your own preferences.

It’s shocking to know how much the British love scones, and no doubt this unique dessert has become the best seller in various bakeries, cake shops and supermarkets throughout the UK. It is also a dessert that British families like to make on their own as it's very easy.

How to Make Scones at Home?

Scone recipe:

• 2 cups of plain wheat flour.
• 4 teaspoons of baking powder.
• Half teaspoon salt.
• 50 grams butter.
• 3 Quarters cup of milk.

Method:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees.
• Add the baking powder and salt to the flour and sift with a sifter.
• Rub the butter into the flour and salt with fingertips.
• Add the milk and work into a rough dough.
• Put onto a floured board and flatten to about 2 centimetres thick. Cut, either with a knife on cookie cutter and place on a baking tray.
• Bake at 200 degrees for 12 minutes.
• Serve warm with jam and cream.

Where can we find the most authentic afternoon tea in Hong Kong?

There are many high-end hotels or coffee shops in Hong Kong that offers afternoon tea services, such as the Peninsula Hong Kong, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel, Gough'son Gou, the Langham hotel, Sevva, Hong Kong Oriental Mandarin Hotel, Four Seasons, etc. These hotels embrace the traditional British flavor with unique hotel characteristics that we believe will give guests and customers a brand new delicacy experience.