Things You Should Dunk in Your Tea

How can we bring the tradition of afternoon tea into standard practice in American culture? That would be great! If you are not a fan of tea, well then coffee, cider, or hot cocoa could certainly be served. I think the answer to American popularity could lie in the food served with the tea. Not only is tea itself packed with antioxidants, as covered in The Truth About Tea, many doctors and nutritionists praise grazing, or eating smaller meals more often, as healthier for you. If we look to healthier items, packed with nuts and fruits, afternoon tea might just help fight the growing rate of obesity in American. I have high hopes. And, I like tea.

Nibbling on a light sandwich with your afternoon tea, you could eat less for lunch and generally feel lighter throughout the day. Try some refreshing Cucumber Tea Sandwiches. Looking for something a little less dainty? Sink your teeth into these Shrimp Butter Tea Sandwiches. I assure you; the silver three-tiered serving tray is not a necessity.

I personally have a thing for scones. In fact, look forward to a lengthy article on scones at Recipe4Living.com on Monday. English scones can be plainer, much like the North American biscuit, and not to be confused with the English biscuit meaning cookie. For example, the Scottish Buttermilk Oat Scone is pretty close to the scone's authentic origins. These scones are generally topped with a clotted cream or a spread such as Lemon Curd.

In American, the triangle-shaped scones are usually sweeter and eaten alone. Here are a few of my favorites:

Walnut and Honey Scones
Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones
Pumpkin Carrot Scones
Cheese and Herb Scones

Spread the word about the teatime revolution!