Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea Recipes: Hosting a royal tea fit for a queen becomes a bit easier with recipes Her Majesty favors for her daily afternoon tea.
If serving an Afternoon Tea fit for a Queen is what you have in mind, we’ve gathered some of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite afternoon tea recipes. Along with royal guidance on how to properly drink tea, whether or not to raise your pinky, and an answer to an age-old debate over tea before milk.
Continue reading to view Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea recipes, her preferred tea, and how she likes it brewed and served.
Her majesty’s former chief pastry chef tells the Telegraph that Queen Elizabeth takes daily afternoon tea, without fail.
He said, “Such an event is a more formal affair where the tea must be brewed just-so, the cream cakes filled with seasonal British fruit and the jam sandwiches cut into the shape of old English pennies.” (Recipe below).
“Every day,” Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth, says, “she would have what we called a ‘cut cake’ – meaning she would cut a slice of it off – small cakes like eclairs or raspberry tartlets, and then scones: one day plain, the next day fruit. And two types of sandwiches: smoked salmon, or Sage Derby cheese and tomato, roast beef or jam pennies.
On Tea: Does The Queen Pour the Milk in Before the Tea?
“The British royal family love their tea as much as the rest of the nation! But where does the Queen stand on the age-old debate about whether you pour the milk in first, or the tea? Her Majesty’s royal butler Grant Harrold shared an insight into the Queen’s favourite tea and how to prepare the perfect brew. Drumroll please… the monarch is a fan of Assam and Earl Grey, and will always add the milk after the tea,” Hello! Magazine says.
Mr. Harrold has told the BBC that it’s a “myth that members of Royalty use their pinky when drinking, I have never seen that happen once.”
He further explains the “‘correct’ way to make tea is to stir it back and forth never in a circle and never with the spoon touching the sides.”
Lastly, he advises, one should always sip delicately from your cup and never slurp.
Queen Elizabeth and Her Favorite Tea
If you want to serve tea as Queen Elizabeth prefers, you’ll want to have a pot of Earl Gray or Assam ready.
Her Majesty’s royal butler, Grant Harrold, says the Queen “enjoys her Assam or her Earl Grey the traditional way, made with tea leaves in a teapot and poured into a fine bone china teacup. She will also use a strainer.”
Teas Preferred by Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Tea
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When is Queen Elizabeth’s Afternoon Tea Served?
Royal tradition says Afternoon Tea is celebrated “between 3 pm and 5 pm with an assortment of cakes, pastries, dainty sandwiches and, of course, scones with clotted cream, curd, and strawberry preserves.”
Royal Afternoon Tea is “served from elegant silver teapots into fine bone china teacups, Afternoon Tea and Cream Tea were set on low tables as the ladies relaxed in comfortable parlour chairs or in the garden.”
Etiquette When Invited to Afternoon Tea with the Queen
- Upon first meeting with Her Majesty, one can address her as “Your Majesty” and then “Ma’am”. When departing, she is to once again be addressed as “Your Majesty”.
- When The Queen enters a room, proper form is to be standing.
- Only the teacup should be raised when drinking… never the pinkie finger.
- The teacup should always rest on the saucer when one is not drinking.
- One is expected to stop eating once The Queen has eaten her last bite.
Her Majesty’s 94th Birthday
Every year, Queen Elizabeth celebrates her birthday, twice. She was born on April 21, 1926, and celebrates privately with her family.
Her official birthday is celebrated the seconds Saturday in June with “Trooping the Colour” also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade.
The Mall outside Buckingham Palace “is filled with flag-waving, Union Jack-clad merrymakers, all gathered to watch the official Trooping the Colour celebrations.”
This year, due to shelter restrictions, a “small, brief military ceremony” will take place at Windsor Castle on Saturday, June 13, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace has confirmed. Britons will be able to watch the replacement celebrations on BBC One this Saturday from 10:15 am.
In honor of her 94th birthday, her chefs shared a chocolate cupcake recipe on Instagram, complete with a little decorating inspiration.
A Garden Afternoon Tea Hosted by Queen Elizabeth
Every year at Garden Parties across The Royal Residences, over 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 tea sandwiches, and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed!”
Cookbooks featuring Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea Recipes
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There are two cookbooks every tea library should have. Both contain authentic recipes The Queen loves, has made herself, or was made for her by her personal chef.
Royal Teas: Seasonal Recipes from Buckingham Palace
“What could be more quintessentially British than a spot of afternoon tea? It’s a hallowed tradition that’s taken particularly seriously at Buckingham Palace, where for more than a decade Royal Chef Mark Flanagan and his team have prepared an afternoon tea that reflects the best of this venerable tradition across the seasons, from springtime picnics to sophisticated summer garden parties and festive Christmas teas.”
The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining
Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, has curated and created delicious, easy recipes that will add an elegant touch to any meal without requiring hours of laboring in the kitchen.
“Darren’s Easy Seasons is perfect for entertaining no matter what the time of year, including midday lunches and brunches, teas, indoor and outdoor sit-down and buffet dinners, and cocktail parties. The book is also organized by season with events including a Children’s Easter Egg Roll, Valentine’s Day for Two, a proper Sunday dinner, Christmas open house, and Thanksgiving.”
Queen Elizabeth Afternoon Tea Recipes
Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Afternoon Tea Recipes
Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Chocolate Tea Cake
"'This chocolate biscuit cake is Her Royal Majesty the Queen's favorite afternoon tea cake by far,' chef Darren McGrady, The Royal Chef and former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II," said. "This cake is probably the only one that is sent into the royal dining room again and again until it has all gone."
A Royal Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe
A garden party favorite, the Victoria Sponge is named for Queen Elizabeth's great great grandmother.
A Royal Recipe for fruit scones
"The Royal Pastry Chefs are happy to share their recipe for fruit scones, which traditionally would be served at Buckingham Palace every summer."
Coronation Chicken Salad Sandwiches
"Originally created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, Coronation Chicken Salad is still popular today."
Penny Sandwiches
"Teatime consists of a ‘penny’ - With their tea, the family really enjoys a sandwich called “jam penny.” The food got its name because it is cut into circles the size of an old English penny."
For a sweet treat at tea, she may ask for her childhood favorite – jam pennies, tiny raspberry jam sandwiches cut into small circles the size of an old English penny. She used to snack on them with her little sister Princess Margaret in the nursery as kids, according to the Telegraph.
Tea Sandwiches
The Queen always asks for at least two kinds of sandwiches with her afternoon tea. Often she chooses cucumber, smoked salmon, egg with mayonnaise, ham and mustard, or tuna. The bread is always either whole wheat or white bread, sliced thinly, and cut into squares with the corners cut off similar to an octagon-like shape.
Chocolate Cupcake Recipe for Queen Elizabeth's 94th Birthday
In honor of the British monarch's 94th birthday today, her chefs shared a chocolate cupcake recipe on social media, complete with a little decorating inspiration.
More Afternoon Tea Ideas
- How to Throw an Easy Afternoon Tea
- Taking Afternoon Tea Like the British
- All our Afternoon Tea Recipes and Ideas here >>
This is a wonderful article on the Queen’s favorite tea and recipes for afternoon tea. Thank you.
Thank you, Ann! It was such a pleasure to write!!
No recipes. Do I have to buy the cookbooks?
Hi Dona, to get the links to the recipes, scroll to the bottom of the post and click on either the images or the “Keep Reading” button. For instance, look for “Her Majesty’s Carrot Cake” and either click or tap the carrot cake image or the button below it. This will take you to the recipe.
Thank you for the lovely story on Queen Elizabeth’s Afternoon Teas.
You’re welcome, Patricia! It was certainly a pleasure to write and research.