What is included in a traditional afternoon tea?

A traditional afternoon tea has three tiers: finger sandwiches on the bottom (3-4 per person), freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam in the middle (1-2 per person), and small cakes and pastries on top (2-3 per person). Tea is served in pots with milk and sugar.

How many scones per person?

For a traditional afternoon tea, 1-2 scones per person is standard (we calculate 1.5). For a cream tea where scones are the main feature, allow 2 per person. Each scone needs about 25g of clotted cream and 20g of jam.

What is the difference between afternoon tea and cream tea?

A cream tea is simply scones served with clotted cream and jam, accompanied by tea. An afternoon tea includes the scones plus finger sandwiches and small cakes/pastries. A high tea is more substantial and may include savoury items like quiche or Welsh rarebit.

How much clotted cream and jam do I need?

Allow approximately 25g of clotted cream and 20g of jam per scone. For a party of 10 with 1.5 scones each, that is about 375g of clotted cream and 300g of jam. A standard jar of clotted cream is 227g, so you would need 2 jars for 10 guests.

What sandwiches should I serve at afternoon tea?

Classic afternoon tea sandwich fillings include cucumber, egg and cress, smoked salmon, coronation chicken, and ham and mustard. Cut into fingers (3-4 per round of bread) with the crusts removed. Offer 3-4 varieties.

How much tea should I prepare?

Allow 1.5 cups per person, or about 1 tea bag per cup. A standard teapot serves 3-4 cups. For 10 guests, prepare 4 pots of tea. Always offer both regular tea and a caffeine-free option, plus have hot water available for herbal tea.

BakeCalcs

Afternoon Tea Calculator

Calculate scone, sandwich, and cake quantities for afternoon tea, cream tea, or high tea by number of guests.

Number of Guests

Tea Style

How We Calculate This

This calculator uses traditional UK afternoon tea portions. Items are calculated per person then multiplied by guest count, with accompaniment quantities derived from the scone count.

Per Person Quantities

Traditional: 4 finger sandwiches, 1.5 scones, 3 small cakes
Cream tea: 2 scones (no sandwiches or cakes)
High tea: 4 sandwiches, 2 scones, 3 cakes

Accompaniments

25g clotted cream per scone
20g jam per scone
1.5 cups of tea per person
30ml milk per cup

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.