In the U.S., afternoon tea is usually considered something for a special event like bridal showers, birthdays, and, of course, Mother’s Day. That was not always the case. Once upon a time, it was the norm to drink tea. How did we go from a nation of daily tea drinkers to a place where mostly women dress up to enjoy a leisurely afternoon of tea and canapés?
When we were merely colonies, there were actually tea shops, similar to coffee shops in many cities. Then, 253 years ago, a bunch of Bostonians threw some tea into the harbor. The nation denounced tea, and the boycott that followed was relatively successful. After a decade of abstaining from tea as an act of rebellion, a nation of coffee drinkers was born.
Today, afternoon tea evokes both etiquette and whimsy. Well-heeled children, most often girls, are taught table manners in classes on the proper way to take tea. The flip side of that is a Hollywood trope. In movies and TV, a common sight is a little girl placing her stuffed animals around a table for a make-believe tea party. Afternoon high teas are parties for girls of all ages, where hats and gloves are acceptable…