Chocolate Cafe, Goring

The origin of the afternoon cream tea began in England in the early 1840’s by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon and in the 1840’s the fashion in households was not to serve the evening meal until 8pm, which meant it was a long time between lunch at midday and dinner.
Afternoon Tea is traditionally a meal composed of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and cakes, served with tea or coffee.

The Chocolate Cafes not only offer its own version of Afternoon Tea, but also offer Cream Tea too. This is traditionally a speciality of both Cornwall and Devon and is a form of afternoon tea but a lighter meal. Consisting of tea taken with a combination of scones, clotted cream, and jam. Cream teas are offered for sale in tea rooms in those two counties, as well as in other parts of England.

The one thing most people ask though is “which goes first, jam or cream”? And the answer, well it depends on whether you follow the tradition from Cornwall or Devon. Cornwall put the jam first and Devon put the cream on first.
Unlike some hotels and restaurants, you don’t have to book into The Chocolate Cafes to enjoy our Afternoon/Cream Teas. Nor do we specify a time to have it. Many people enjoy an afternoon tea with us from midmorning, lunch and tea time as well as afternoon.