Carlevato - The art of afternoon tea : from the era of Downton Abbey and the Titanic

Endorsements

The tea-time expert has done it again! A lovely book with history, recipes, and personal insights into the wonderful world of tea. A must for all Downton Abbey Fans.

Linda Evans Shepherd, Best Selling Author, Award Winning Speaker, President of Right to the Heart, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and Publisher of Leading Hearts Magazine.

Penelopes knowledge of the propriety of the ceremony of English tea is a joy to experience. Her interest and knowledge of my Great Grandmother, Margaret Brown, is enhanced by her enthusiasm for the Edwardian era. This wonderful book is a must for anyone who loves history, tea, Downton Abbey or the Titanic.

Helen Benziger, great-granddaughter of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Steeped in Gods word, Lady Penelope will quiet your spirit and warm your heartlike a good cup of tea. Her stories of Royalty and tea time are fabulous, plus some wonderful insights into Downton Abbey. Wonderful recipes! Dont miss it!

-Rose Sweet, Author, Inspirational Speaker and Motivator

The Catholics Divorce Survival Guide, Dear God, Send Me a Soul Mate and A Womans Guide to Healing the Heartbreak of Divorce

Passion for tea, passion for Jesus. Put the two together and what do you have? Lady Penelope, the Queen of Tea shares how you can refresh the souls of others with simple and elegant hospitality. Delight as she shares from her heart, real life tea parties and recipes fit for a King. A must have book for any history or tea lover with a heart for hospitality.

-Allison Bottke, bestselling author of God Allows U-Turns book series, Setting Boundaries Books, speaker and entrepreneur

She knows tea! A best-selling author and expert on all things tea, Penelope practices what she preaches. She has expertly combined history with practical insights from the Downton Abbey sensation and on the Titanic with fabulous award-winning recipes. A must have for all Downton Abbey fans.

Jessica Avery, owner The House of Commons Tea Room, Denver, Colorado

The Art of Afternoon Tea:
From the Era of Downton
Abbey and the Titanic

Additional Books by Penelope M. Carlevato

Tea on the Titanic
First Class Etiquette

The Art of Afternoon Tea:
From the Era of Downton
Abbey and the Titanic

Penelope M. Carlevato

Copyright 2015 Penelope M. Carlevato
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 0692585281
ISBN 13: 9780692585283

This is an unauthorized and unofficial work and has no approval or endorsement from Downton Abbey, its production agency, Carnival Films and Television Ltd., or its writer and producer, Julian Fellows. A big thank you to Mr. Fellows for the creation for such a fabulous drama series, and what a joy it would be to share with him a cup of builders tea.

In memory of my dear tea friend, Jessie Klingler.

Acknowledgments

A BOOK IS NEVER THE product of one personit takes a village to get it done! Acknowledging those who have assisted me in the creation of this book is such a privilege. God gives us special people along the way who help make writing books a joy. My English mother, Thelma Barrett Schwarting, was my mentor and teacher in all things tea. She encouraged me every step of the way and gave me a rich legacy in every area of my life. Enormous thanks to my husband, Norm, for his patience, encouragement, and expert technical advise (which I dont always take). Thanks to Rick Marschall, author, editor, historian, and political cartoonist for his example of grace and expertise in editing and permission to use the wonderful Gibson Girl images. My granddaughters, Kate Carlevato, for special editing help, and Nicole Klingler, for recipe collecting and testing. A special thank you to friends Alan and Lyn Dines, who shared their royal adventure at Buckingham Palace, George Mynatt for sharing his Mr. Carson experience, and my English friend, Karen Webster for the lovely photo of her Christening dress. My long-time tea friends, Wendy Chessum and Lydia Hocking, who read and re-read the manuscript. The wonderful friendship and endless pots of tea with Jessica Avery, owner of The House of Commons Tea Room in Denver, and to Helen Benziger, great-granddaughter of Margaret Brown, for her friendship and creative information. And finally to all those wonderful grandchildren who never say no to sharing tea with Grams.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The FIRST TIME I WATCHED Downton Abbey I was hooked. I wondered if it would it be a repeat of Upstairs, Downstairs. Not knowing what to expect, I kept watching, week after week, until I was totally immersed in a period drama. I was not alone. I joined more than 200 million viewers in more than 200 countries around the world. We would be glued to the telly on Sunday nights watching life unfold for a fictional upper-class family and their downstairs servants on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

I had just completed writing my book, Tea on the Titanic, and had been researching that very same period of time of a class-based society in the Edwardian era. First, second, and third-class passengers were all under one roof on the ship, similar, but Downton Abbey was set on dry land. The opening scene involves the latest news of the Titanic being lost at sea, and an heir from Downton Abbey one of its victims. The series follows the lives of the fictitious Crawley family who live in a lovely, old, grand English country home. The series begins in 1912 and will complete season six in the 1920s.

Downton Abbey reminds me of my English heritage. Every trip across the pond is special. I visit my birthplace, very near Oxford, and find a manor house for afternoon tea. I arrive on the graveled drive and approach the front door. I could very well be a character in a Jane Austen book. There is a slight drizzle of rain, and the butler with the oversized green and white striped umbrella rushes out and opens my car door. I am usherd into the Laura Ashley-inspired parlor all set for afternoon tea. A fire is flickering in the fireplace as I sink into the over-stuffed chairs. The silver tea service is placed on the table, tea is poured, and I am experiencing Downton Abbey. Was this not my cup of tea!

I have researched the Edwardian era, including the etiquette, manners, social customs, fashions and recipes for my last two books, Tea on the Titanic and First Class Etiquette. It seemed an opportune time to continue my love of that era with a book relating to tea at Downton Abbey.

The actors who portray the cast of Downton Abbey are almost all English, including the Producer and Director, Julian Fellows. One must assume that they all have been brought up with tea as a large part of their lives. They represent the three distinct classes (rich, middle, and lower) of the Edwardian period in real life and also the characters they portray. Money and position in society made the difference between living at Downton Abbey or working there.

An interesting and unique aspect of Downton Abbey it that it has one single voice, one writer on the show, Julian Fellows, a master craftsman at creating story and character. He is very real how he deals with everyday life, both upstairs and the sagas of the servants.

The popularity of the show started with nine million viewers representing more than 200 countries. As the series progresses, the numbers keep climbing. The audience finds this time-frame fascinating. It is similar to the movie Titanic, with its staggering box office sales of over $2.2 billion worldwide, and revolved around the same Edwardian era.

What keeps everyone so enamored of Downton Abbey