Victorian Melon Collection

The Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, “refined sensibilities” and national self-confidence for the United Kingdom.
It was during the Victorian era that tea became very popular. In fact, it became so widely liked that ale was displaced as the most favourite of all beverages and tea reigned supreme.
During the time of Queen Victoria, one of her ladies in waiting, Anne, the Duchess of Bedford, actually came up with the idea of `Afternoon tea’.
Back then meals in England consisted of a huge breakfast, slightly lesser lunch and dinner, so after lunch, the duchess would ask her maids to get her some tea and little cakes to go with it. This would stave off her hunger (see more on the history of tea)
She drank it in solitude at first. But later, she began inviting her friends and other ladies to join her in partaking of this new and exciting brew. This became so well liked that the duchess carried on with tradition even after going back to London. Hence, the institution of afternoon tea was established.