Afternoon tea in Tokyo- Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo

Aug 31

Afternoon tea is a British tradition of enjoying light meals and sweets with tea in the afternoon. In Japan, it has become extremely popular as an elegant tea time experience, where hotels and cafés serve sandwiches, scones, and cakes beautifully arranged on a three-tiered stand. I also enjoy hotel afternoon tea several times a year myself.

1 Hotel in Tokyo-Afternoon tea in Tokyo- Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo

Origins and History

The tradition is said to have begun in the 1840s, when Anna Maria, the Duchess of Bedford in England, started having tea and bread in her bedroom around 4 p.m. to ease her hunger between breakfast and late dinner.

Afternoon tea in Tokyo- Japanese Home Cooking and Sweets Class in Tokyo

What began as a personal habit gradually evolved as she started inviting friends to join her, eventually developing into a social gathering among aristocratic women.

By the 20th century, the modern format became established, with savories (lightly seasoned bites), scones, and sweets elegantly arranged on a three-tiered stand. In recent years, however, many venues have moved away from the traditional three-tiered stand, opting instead for more stylish presentations featuring a wide variety of beautifully arranged cakes and desserts.

I occasionally enjoy afternoon tea at a hotel. The beautiful presentation, seasonal touches, and thoughtful hospitality offer so much inspiration for my cooking classes. I hope to bring more of these wonderful ideas into my classes.

Please book from here.