Scones and Clotted Cream

• Scones and clotted cream are a fixture on both cream tea and more elaborate high tea menus. These flaky biscuits may come plain or with raisins, seeds or nuts. Clotted cream, also known as “Devonshire cream” or “Cornish cream,” depending on production areas, is a rich, thick cream containing at least 55 percent of butterfat. It is pale yellow in color and has the consistency of soft butter. When clotted cream is not available, serve double cream, whipped cream or butter as a replacement. Fruit preserves complete the assortment; strawberry jam is the most common, while fancier options may include lemon curd or rose petal jelly.

Cakes and Pastries

• A variety of cakes, either cut into bite-size fingers or in the form of cupcakes, can be served with afternoon tea. Traditional fruitcake contains preserved fruits like dried fig and candied orange, nuts and spices, and it is sometimes enhanced with rum. Fruity tea cake is made by steeping dried berries and cherries into hot tea and orange juice before adding them to the cake batter. The pastry known as a “classic Victoria sandwich” consists of sponge cakes filled with buttercream and strawberry jam.

Desserts and Sweets

• Desserts in miniature size allow you to unleash your creativity and work with whatever ingredients are locally available and in season. The Landmark London Hotel has served lime cheesecake with vodka cranberry truffle, as well as flourless pistachio sponge cake with fig jam and pistachio mascarpone; while Claridge’s has featured crème brûlée, black currant tart and pear and walnut éclair on the afternoon tea menu. Strawberry tart, raspberry Linzer slices and baked cheesecake are also good choices.

Cookies and Macaroons

• Old-school favorites like cinnamon swirls, lemon bars and custard kisses can all enhance an afternoon tea. Shortbread is a classic cookie made of flour, sugar and butter, whose simplicity is likely to bring back pleasant childhood memories. At the opposite end of the spectrum, fashionable macaroons provide a contemporary note and a burst of color in high tea sweet assortments. Combinations that bring together fruits and nuts, such as coconut and mango, or almond and raspberry, are particularly popular.