A great, British tradition, afternoon tea was supposedly first introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840.
Though many consider this story to be more of an old wives’ tale, The Duchess of Bedford (a close confidant of Queen Victoria) was said to often become hungry by around four or five o’clock in the afternoon. She therefore required a light, fulfilling snack to delight the senses until a fashionably late dinner was served at approximately eight o’clock. According to Historic UK, the Duchess would promptly be brought a tray of tea, bread and butter.
