A GUIDED TOUR ON 'THE HISTORY OF TEA' WITH OPTIONAL VICTORIAN AFTERNOON TEA AT THE V&A

Anyone for a cuppa?

I have arranged for an exclusive guided tour at the stunning Victoria & Albert Museum on the ‘History of Tea’ to explore the history of tea drinking, from its origins in China and East India to its popularity in Victorian Britain.

We will look at all the ‘tea paraphernalia’ on display and learn about traditional tea ceremonies and how it became a ubiquitous British institution. The theme has been skilfully developed, to give us not just a history of tea drinking but also of social behaviour, design, technology, international trade and many other trends, all around the subject of tea.

Our tour will last about an hour, after which you have the opportunity to partake in a very special ‘Victorian Afternoon Tea’ experience, the setting for which will be held in the historic Morris Room (formerly the Green Dining Room). This is one of the classic rooms that formed the original V&A Refreshment Rooms, the very first museum café in the world.

The tea itself is served on traditional British Burleigh crockery paired with antique cutlery pieces that date back to the early 1900s and renowned food historian Natasha Marks has recreated Queen Victoria’s afternoon tea in order for us to experience the full authenticity of a Victorian selection:

Savoury

Crayfish & mayonnaise sandwich (1890)

Crayfish, mayonnaise, watercress, anchovy paste, nutmeg, chervil, crème fraiche and paprika on brown bread

 

Indian ham sandwich (1861)

Grange ham hock, mild chutney and chervil on white bread

 

Mrs Beeton’s cucumber sandwich (1859)

Cucumber, cream cheese, butter and seasoning on white bread

 

Nasturtium open sandwich (1888)

Fresh anchovy, chives and blue nasturtium flower on pumpernickel bread

 

Asparagus & parmesan tart (1901)

Asparagus and parmesan mini tart

 

Sweet

Fruit sconelets (1890)

Sultanas infused with Earl Grey tea, strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream

 

Victoria sandwich (1901)

Buttermilk sponge, blackcurrant jam and elderflower fresh cream

 

Gooseberry tart (1887) Gooseberry compote and crème pâtissière

 

Iced orange cake (1891)

Clementine purée, orange zest, almonds and pistachios

 

Lemon & seed cake (1895)

Buttermilk and almond sponge with lemon zest, poppy seeds and caraway seeds

 

Loose leaf tea selection

English breakfast

Assam mid-season

Darjeeling mid-season

Elderflower & lemon

Ginger & lemon

 

The cost of the tour is £20

The Victorian Afternoon Tea (optional) costs £30.

Places are limited to 15 people.

Payment is in advance only please on the www.45plusnotgrumpy.com website

 

Meeting Point in the Grand Entrance of the V&A on the Cromwell Road at 14.15