“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady
Nothing compares to a nice cup of tea accompanied by a cake or two and enjoyed with friends. Tea time is a moment to relax—a time to chat and exchange news and opinions. Steampunks are social creatures, and the Victorian afternoon tea has proved itself a firm favorite among their social engagements.
Tea drinking as a ritual first originated in ancient China, later spreading throughout the Orient in the elegant formal tea ceremonies of Japan. Europe was still in the Dark Ages, quaffing mead and small beer with no idea of what it might be missing! Fortunately, civilizing tea was eventually introduced to Europe by Dutch explorers in the 1600s. The English East India company would bring it to England as a gift for the wife of Charles II.
During the 1700s, tea, also called tay or chay, gradually replaced coffee as the British beverage of choice. Queen Catherine’s preference for tea as the beverage of choice among courtiers popularized it as a drink suitable for both ladies and gentlemen. Soon, tea would outstrip silk as China’s biggest export.
The Duchess of Bedford is credited with the invention of afternoon tea as a meal in the mid 1840s. Feeling rather peckish between her light midday luncheon and the elaborate evening dinner at Woburn Abbey, she took to having a cup of tea with a few little cakes and invited friends to partake. It is possible that Queen Victoria, whilst visiting, enjoyed this ritual, for as the idea spread it quickly became the most popular meal of the Victorian day, with the food becoming ever more exciting.
In perfect Steampunk serendipity, it was a machine that revolutionized fancy baking in the Victorian era. Gas-fired ranges were amongst the exhibits at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Although their popularity was not immediate, later models brought the technical aspects of baking ornate pastries and elaborate cakes, hitherto seen only in continental patisseries, well within the reach of the domestic cook.
So much for tea, you say, but what about Steampunk? Who are these Steampunks and why should we want to take tea with them? Well, Steampunk has been variously described as an art movement and a subculture, but what it boils down to is Victorian science fiction. It is a very general term used to describe a wide variety of activities, creations and people who share a common interest in blending the historical with the scientifically fantastical. It is often typified by a specific look of Victorian-styled clothing, brass pipes, gears and rivets into which historical elements, such as mahogany rayguns, short skirts, brass rockets and other imaginary steam- or clockwork-driven inventions are incorporated.
Steampunk design turns up in films such as Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle-Blanc Sec. There are Steampunk bands, exhibitions, markets, books, art and conventions, all created and attended by those who love the genre. There are also tea parties galore, filled with tea and cake; chatting; sandwiches; dress up; biscuits; being creative; and don’t forget scones!
If you enjoy some or all of the above, then I hope this book may help you release your inner Steampunk and share your adventures with family and friends. The different themes demonstrate different approaches to Steampunk; though, with a little tweaking, any recipe can be suitable for any occasion! Now, may I invite you to sit down with a nice cup of tea and accompany me on a wonderful adventure to Biscuits and Beyond!
Love,
Emilly Ladybird