Like Chinese tea drinking, the theme of English afternoon tea is of course tea and tea utensils. In the British Victorian afternoon tea tradition, the exquisite tea set is very important. A complete set of English afternoon tea, there must be ceramic teapot, cups and sets, sugar pots, milk cups, seven-inch personal snack plates, snack racks, snack plates, put the tea residue of the small bowl, all of these are for the white background of the porcelain depicting flowers. In addition, tea strainer spoons and small saucers for strainers, teaspoons, butter knives, cake forks, and two- or three-tiered confectionery holders must be of polished silver. Even the teapot had to be silver for the more sophisticated. It is said that in the lack of sunlight in the United Kingdom, silver tea set often through the people's desire for sunshine.

In the choice of tea, generally speaking, the orthodox British afternoon tea will choose Darjeeling tea, Earl Grey tea or breakfast tea. All are directly brewed tea, and then filtered out the dregs with a tea funnel and poured into the arms to drink, and only drink the first bubble. As for the bagged tea, basically the high society at that time is not selected (but nowadays it seems that not so much to pay attention to). If you drink milk tea, it is first add milk and then add tea. The brewed black tea with milk to make a warm temperature, a small sip, after a long time can still be in the lips and teeth to recall the faint flavor.