The British are famously obsessed with tea. It was described by the author, George Orwell, as “one of the mainstays of civilisation in this country.” During World War I, tea was one of the few items that escaped rationing as the British government feared that a lack of tea would lower national morale. During World War II, they stockpiled tea in warehouses located away from potential bombing targets.
This book is for every person who has ever dreamed of having formal tea with the upper classes, perhaps at Downton Abbey. The photographs of bone China cups and saucers, three-tiered plates of scones, savories, and sweets, and settings for enjoying afternoon tea’s decadence will make you swoon — a true hedonist’s delight.
Downton Abbey aired for six seasons in the U.S., and its American fans became legion. Millions could not resist the upscale dramas of the Crawley family and its servants. If your beloved mater is among the Downtonites, why not treat her this year to a tea service fit for the denizens of the Abbey itself?