5 English Afternoon Tea Rules American Tourists Break In Their First 10 Minutes

If there's one thing that most people from England can agree upon, it's their collective love for tea. The beverage has been enjoyed for thousands of years, but it first made its way to England more than 350 years ago. Since then, tea drinking has become a cornerstone of British culture, with many popular establishments offering elegant afternoon tea services complete with sweet and savory treats. Enjoying afternoon tea is an absolute must for travelers visiting the United Kingdom.

In Great Britain, afternoon tea is more than just a cuppa and a snack. It's often a formal affair, and it was once a ritual mostly enjoyed by wealthy elites. Lords and ladies who enjoyed a life of leisure would gather in the afternoon for a luxurious refreshment. Today, anyone can enjoy this delightful pastime, and plenty of places let tourists experience it.

American tourists are usually super excited to attend their first afternoon tea, but they aren't always familiar with the etiquette and rules. From knowing how to dress and observe proper table manners to enjoying the various foods in the traditional order, there are plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. If you don't want to be immediately pegged as a tourist during your afternoon tea in Great Britain, it's a good idea to avoid these common missteps.

Tourists should be cautious of the clothing they pack on a trip to the United Kingdom, especially if they plan to enjoy afternoon tea. Although modern fashions like athleisure, gorpcore, and streetwear appear in large cities like London, some afternoon tea establishments expect guests to dress more formally. The exact dress code largely depends on where you are going.

During the Victorian era, members of the British aristocracy and other wealthy elites often dressed up for afternoon tea, adorning themselves with elaborate hats, jewelry, and fine gowns. Today, afternoon tea remains an occasion worth dressing up for, especially at more luxurious establishments.

If you're enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea at an elegant place like The Ritz London, for instance, there's a dress code to follow. Adult male guests must wear a jacket and tie, and jeans and sportswear are prohibited. Children ages 2 to 15 have a separate smart-casual dress code. At more casual spots, you may be given a bit more freedom, and smart-casual attire is often acceptable. The important thing is to check the venue's requirements before your reservation. Don't make the mistake of showing up underdressed. After all, your attire is part of the ambiance. You don't want to arrive in sweatpants only to discover that everyone else is dressed for a special occasion.

The English are known for their emphasis on politeness and good manners. Although social expectations have relaxed over time, being courteous during afternoon tea is still important.

Tourists from the United States have earned a somewhat bad reputation in different parts of the world. Many locals get massively annoyed with American tourists for a variety of reasons. Some believe that we are loud, rude, and overly animated. At the very least, we should try to use proper manners when enjoying an experience in another country. Even without a significant language barrier, some visitors from the United States may fail to observe social niceties.

Punctuality is a good place to start. Showing up late to your afternoon tea reservation is one of the easiest mistakes to make before the experience even begins. You should also remember to say please and thank you to the people who are serving your tea and to your companions when appropriate. Waiting your turn, saying excuse me when you pass someone closely, and showing consideration for other guests are equally important.

If you've managed to show up on time for your reservation and observe social niceties like saying please and thank you, you're off to a great start. You'll still need to master proper table manners, which are easy to mess up within the first 10 minutes of sitting down, especially when you're distracted by all the delightful little treats.

Once you're seated, place your napkin on your lap and avoid resting your elbows on the table. When tea is served, be careful not to clink your silverware against your plate, and it's especially important that you don't clink it against your teacup. When you're seated at the table, leave the saucer where it is and lift only your cup. However, when you're standing, it's acceptable to hold the saucer as well. In any case, take small sips, especially if you don't know how hot it is, and avoid slurping audibly.

When the treats come out, you may feel tempted to take a swipe of the icing, but it goes without saying that it is quite rude to do so. Food often arrives on a multitiered tray (more on this later), and guests choose their preferred items from the shared selection. Only take the sandwiches, pastries, and other treats you are actually going to eat. Some will be quite small, but that doesn't mean you should stuff your mouth. Take manageable bites instead so you can enjoy your food without making a mess.

If you've ever scrolled through social media, chances are you've seen someone enjoying a fancy beverage or meal while snapping a photo with their pinky sticking out. Drinking with a "pinky out" might seem like a way to look fancy or posh, but in traditional English afternoon tea etiquette, it's considered a faux pas.

When you attend afternoon tea, avoid sticking out your pinky while you drink. "Sticking your finger out when drinking tea doesn't make you look cute in your photographs or indeed that you appear like a refined tea drinker," Eileen Donaghey, the Afternoon Tea Expert, wrote on her website. Despite its association with elegant drinking, it's generally viewed as unnecessary and pretentious. Not to mention, some myths about its origins are quite disturbing. 

According to Donaghey, one myth suggests that members of the upper class believed their servants were unclean. They didn't want to touch anything their servants had touched, so they supposedly stuck out their pinkies to avoid using all their fingers. That is not the kind of vibe you want to give off when you're enjoying an elegant afternoon tea. Other myths about the origins of sticking out a pinky include that tea used to be served in cups without handles, or that a pinky out signaled a desire for a romantic rendezvous. Regardless, just avoid doing this. It's definitely not considered "posh" in the United Kingdom.

A formal afternoon tea is traditionally enjoyed in a particular order. If you jump between courses or rush the experience, you may make it clear you're a tourist within the first ten minutes of your meal. Worse, you may miss out on part of what makes the pastime so enjoyable. Be patient and allow the experience to be slow, leisurely, and pleasant for everyone at your table. 

Sometimes, the various delicacies will be brought out at different times during the service. Other times, the snacks will come out all at once on a multitiered tray. If your snacks are served on a traditional three-tiered stand, start at the bottom and work your way up, enjoying the savory foods first. This course might include finger sandwiches, mini quiches, and puff pastries. Next, you'll enjoy some classic scones. Scones are a quintessential part of afternoon tea, usually served with clotted cream and jam. There's even some heated debate about whether to spread your scone with jam or clotted cream first.

The final course consists of sweet treats. You might be served delicious macarons, eclairs, cookies, or tarts topped with fresh fruit. Enjoy the sweets slowly, savoring them as you sip your tea. It's perfectly acceptable to eat small sandwiches, scones, and treats with your fingers, though some pastries may be easier to eat with a fork. Ultimately, though, remember that afternoon tea is supposed to be enjoyable. Following the traditional order and matching the pace of your companions will help you settle into the experience without worrying too much about every little rule. With these tips in mind, you'll be better prepared to enjoy afternoon tea at some of the best places in London.