by Louise Curry
Afternoon tea is one of the nation’s favourite traditions and something you can easily recreate at home, with a varie-tea of Fairtrade goodies.
From scones and cakes to finger sandwiches and, of course, tea. Why not dust off the good china or pick up a vintage set from your local charity shop and throw yourself an afternoon tea party, Fairtrade-style. Pinkies up!
1. Par-tea time
It wouldn’t be afternoon tea without the tea. Whatever your brew of choice, go for a Fairtrade option and raise a cup to the tea pickers, smallholder farmers and workers throughout the tea supply chain.
- Clipper’s Organic & Fairtrade Loose Leaf English Breakfast Tea
- Hampstead Tea’s Organic & Fairtrade Pure Darjeeling
- Nemi’s Green Tea
- 10 essential Fairtrade teas
2. Going, going, scone
Cream then jam or jam then cream? Whip up a batch of scones, slather with cream and Fairtrade jam for the quintessential British treat—Fairtrade raisins optional. If you’re feeling particularly creative you could even make the jam yourself.
- Traidcraft’s Fairtrade raisins
- Pick up a jar of Fairtrade seedless raspberry jam from your local M&S or organic and Fairtrade strawberry jam from Traidcraft
- Tate & Lyle’s Fairtrade jam sugar
- Tate & Lyle’s Fairtrade caster sugar
- Mary Berry’s recipe for tea-time scones
3. Bake a difference
Choosing Fairtrade ingredients for your bakes and cakes means a fairer deal for the people behind the ingredients. These are some of our favourite Fairtrade cakes, sure to go down a treat with your distinguished guests as well as ensuring a better deal for the hardworking farmers and workers.
- Fairtrade chocolate, orange and thyme cupcakes
- Fairtrade banana cake
- Anna Jones’ raspberry and coconut cakes
- 20 Fairtrade baking ingredients
4. Wine not?
Upgrade your afternoon tea with some Fairtrade sparkling wine—perfect for a special occasion.
- Stormhoek Fairtrade Moscato Rose from Co-op
- Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Rosé Moscato, Taste the Difference
5. Dainty sandwiches
Traditional sandwich fillings include cucumber, smoked salmon and egg mayonnaise with cress. Keep it classy by chopping off the crusts, thinly slicing the fillings and cutting into finger-sized pieces.
Top tip: Take your cheese sandwich up a notch with a drizzle of Fairtrade honey.
Equal Exchange Organic Honey from Ethical Superstore
6. Bloomin’ marvelous
Add some Fairtrade flowers to the table for a pop of colour and an elegant finishing touch.
- Fairtrade Rose & Alstroemeria Bouquet from M&S
- Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark at supermarkets like Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Morrison’s or Sainsbury’s
7. Special delivery
All of the style and none of the work. Go all in with Traidcraft’s afternoon tea hamper. Containing Fairtrade delicacies such as strawberry jam, cookies, cake, honey, chocolate and loose leaf tea, it’s a great way to treat yourself or a friend.
Related reading
Photo of tea set by Maria Lupan, photo of scones by Sarah Kilian, photo of sandwiches by Sebastian Coman, photo of afternoon tea by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash