Afternoon Tea in the Channel Islands

It is a beautiful sunny afternoon in Jersey – the biggest of the Channel Islands. As I stand at the entrance, the artistic design of the iron gates with the curved arch seems to invite me to walk up the meandering steps to enter Chateau La Chaire.

The front page of the menu had this quotation by Henry James that I could not agree more with: “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony know as afternoon tea.”

For most of us who are unaware of the origins of afternoon tea, there is a short historical description from which I have mentioned a few excerpts below:

“Afternoon tea, that most quintessential of English customs is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new tradition.

In 1660s, King Charles II and his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza enjoyed afternoon tea daily. —  It was only in the mid-19^th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ truly appeared. Afternoon tea was introduced to England by Anna, the 7^th Duchess of Bedford in the year 1840. The Duchess would have a tray of tea, bread with butter and cake brought to her room during late afternoon. This became a habit and she began inviting friends to join her.”

With that historical framework, I looked forward to the afternoon tea.

It was the best afternoon tea I have had and one of the highlights of my stay in Jersey. Thank you Head Chef Jason Williamson to give me an afternoon tea “never to be forgotten.”