The airline’s new service, ‘Afternoon Tea inspired by The Dorchester’, is set to take to the skies from today on First services from London Heathrow.
The Dorchester, famous for its elegant pastries and exquisite cakes, has been honouring the British custom of serving traditional Afternoon Tea since the hotel first opened in London in 1931. British Airways followed suit in the 1940s on the famous Stratocruiser aircraft, which flew across the Atlantic on 20-hour journeys that involved four refuelling stops, and no fewer than three main meals for passengers including a six-course lunch and afternoon tea.
The new Afternoon Tea service from British Airways and The Dorchester will offer First customers a mouth-watering selection of finely cut sandwiches and sumptuous cakes, served with a variety of flavoursome teas from around the world.
British actress Emilia Fox, was one of the first to try the ‘Afternoon Tea by The Dorchester’, served by British Airways cabin crew. She said; “British Airways and The Dorchester are the perfect blend. It is definitely my cup of tea.”
For further information and images please contact Victoria Madden in the British Airways press office on 0208 738 5509 / 0208 738 5100 or email: victoria.madden@ba.com
Historical background:
The Duchess of Bedford is credited with launching the fashion for afternoon tea in 1830. By Victorian times, tea was a well-established meal, with its own distinctive array of foods, including delicate teas, savoury sandwiches, cakes and scones. Tea was a time to share gossip and show off one’s prettiest teapots and china, so hostesses vied with each other to produce the most refined delicacies and elegant table settings. Nowhere is this tradition more celebrated than The Promenade at The Dorchester.
How to serve the perfect afternoon tea, from the experts at The Dorchester :
* The only customs that matter are the ones that are enjoyed; pour milk before or after the tea depending on your guests’ preference
* The ritual of Afternoon Tea is something to celebrate so dressing up for the occasion will help you get into the spirit
* Start with a selection of savoury sandwiches followed by scones and sweet pastries to ensure every palate is pleased
* Provide your guests with beautiful napkins to dab away any stray crumbs
* Finally, make sure you have a tasty morsel of gossip to be shared over tea, it’s the oldest tradition of them all
Top Afternoon Tea tips from the cabin crew at British Airways:
* Tea leaves impart their taste best to water when it is actually boiling. For the best cup of tea keep everything hot, warm the individual cup or teapot first before you add any water
* For the perfect mug of tea leave the teabag in for a minute. Any more and your cup will stew and any less and you will not have the perfect flavour
* Scones are always best served with thick clotted cream and gently warmed through
* Tea always tastes best served out of fine bone china cups with saucers
* Always present your guests with milk in a separate jug to allow them to add as much or as little as they would like
ABOUT THE DORCHESTER
The Dorchester, the iconic London flagship of The Dorchester Collection, is situated at the heart of London’s Mayfair on Park Lane, with rooms and suites affording expansive views of Hyde Park. The Dorchester Spa opened in May after a multimillion transformation to offer indulgent pampering in a glamorous art deco setting. A wide range of dining is available to guests in The Promenade, The Bar and The Grill. China Tang offers traditional Cantonese cuisine, while three Michelin Star Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is one of London’s finest contemporary French dining experiences. High resolution images can be downloaded from www.leonardo.com/dorchestercollection
For further information on The Dorchester, please contact:
Rosanna Crawley
Head of Communications
Park Lane, London, W1K 1QA
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7319 7062
rcrawley@thedorchester.com www.thedorchester.com