Afternoon Tea at Aghadoe Heights, Killarney

During my last trip to Ireland, I had four afternoon teas in one week. With the exception of one, which was for Mother’s Day, the other three were all billed as a “light lunch.” If you’ve ever been to Ireland, you’ve more than likely been regaled with this concept as a heaping plate of food is placed in front of you.

I’m not complaining. It’s part of what makes Irish hospitality so great, and I love the food.





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Why Afternoon Tea?

What is it about this quintessentially British habit?

I’ve lived in the United States for more than three decades, but I still find myself wandering absent-mindedly into the kitchen sometime between three and four in the afternoon, thinking that now would be a very good time for a cup of tea.

Friends and colleagues invariably smile and tell me it’s because I’m British.

I’ve always resisted that explanation. After all, I haven’t drunk milk in years, so I’m more likely to be reaching for a cup of ginger or herbal tea than a pot of Assam. And, thanks to my years studying nutrition, I’m not necessarily looking for the obligatory cake or biscuit to accompany it.

And yet, there I am. Tea kettle on.

Continue reading “Why Afternoon Tea?”