Afternoon Tea

Odessa people are friendly and hospitable. We love to eat, we like to receive guests, and to share food. The British are our antipodes, in a sense, but they also have an old and good tradition, to share something important with someone else: news, emotions, food for Afternoon Tea. English tea drinking has become one of the symbols of the British Empire, even today you can find cosy Tea Houses in its former colonies. The tradition gained popularity, and over time, tea etiquette, special pastries and serving items, the profession of tea sommelier and even a special dress code appeared! After living in England for several years, I travelled to many places in search of the perfect Afternoon Tea, and, falling in love with this culture. I decided to recreate the atmosphere of the English Tea House in the very heart of Odessa, in the cosy, with a touch of aristocracy, Sophie Café. An important detail of our lesson was Wedgwood, an integral part of tea drinking for more than 260 years, real British porcelain from a boutique store chain “12 Persons”, a subject of my special pride. Together with the chef, I taught the guests how to cook English scones, classic sandwiches, crystallize flowers for desserts, and even homemade clotted cream. We learned to properly make tea according to English rules, how to observe the etiquette of tea drinking, and even tried on real hats! English tea drinking ca differ, for example, during Royal Afternoon Tea a glass of sparkling wine is usually served. English sparkling wines are the pride of winemakers, but, unfortunately, the harvest is small and not enough for export. But our sommelier Konstantin Vidoborenko suggested a worthy alternative for the lesson, one of the most popular wines in the UK – Prosecco. Bandarossa Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Bortolomiol is an excellent aperitif – creamy, refreshing, exactly what you need for a leisurely pastime. Sommelier told us about the past and present of English winemaking, what is served at Royal Afternoon Tea at receptions in Buckingham Palace and Downing Street. After this meeting, our guests can feel comfortable even at the Queen’s Afternoon Tea!

Photos from the lesson