Under its appealing cookbook cover, this volume by food writer Skinner is a sociocultural history of afternoon tea—as an established Western meal and a social performance—in the wake of the previous books in the "Meals" series, such as Barbecue (CH, Mar'15, 52-3628) or Brunch (CH, Jan'15, 52-2619). Skinner debunks widely held anecdotes about the tradition's invention and its etiquette and codification. . . . The author underlines how changeable the custom has been—as well as the ways in which its gendered origin as a private social gathering for women, its intersections with national identity, and its class perceptions were responsible for its waxing and waning popularity.

Choice Reviews

[T]his book would be a suitable introductory book for general readers and undergraduates interested in either food studies and/or imperial history. It deftly draws out some of the key issues in food studies, such as how foodways are affected by class, race, and empire, and shows the ways food motivated imperial expansion. It will serve as a useful springboard, as well, for scholars interested in studying how tea was received and integrated into foodways in the Global South during the colonial and postcolonial eras.

Food, Culture & Society