Masterchef winner Jane Devonshire on the resurgence of the afternoon tea experience

Afternoon tea has come a long way since the 19th century. What was once a snack eaten by ladies-in-waiting to fill the void between lunch and dinner, is now a beloved British institution that traditionally involves dainty sandwiches, fluffy scones with jam and cream and cakes.  But a new survey by Breast Cancer Now has revealed the latest trends transforming this Victorian tradition into a modern-day affair.

The survey has been commissioned as the charity announces the return of its annual Afternoon Tea fundraising campaign, which sees people donning their aprons and dusting off their whisks this August to raise vital funds for world-class breast cancer research and life-changing support for those affected by the disease.  According to their survey, afternoon tea remains as popular as ever – with two in three of us (67%) planning to indulge in one this year.

Surprisingly, younger people now seem keener than the Baby Boomer generation to embrace the iconic teatime tradition: the survey reveals 73% of 25–34-year olds and 67% of 16-24-year olds planning to indulge in the afternoon ritual, compared to just 59% of people aged 55 or over.

Aston spoke to 2016 Masterchef winner Jane Devonshire and Sam Rae, director of Breast Cancer Now.

Photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash