Afternoon Tea Calculator

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.

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 (conservative — 30-40g for a generous serving) and 20g of jam.

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.

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.

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.

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.