Emilly Jema - Steampunk Tea Party: Cakes & Toffees to Jams & Teas - 30 Neo-Victorian Steampunk Recipes from Far-Flung Galaxies, Underwater Worlds & Airborne Excursions

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.

Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

Nothing compares to a nice cup of tea accompanied by a cake or two and enjoyed with friends. Tea time is a moment to relaxa time to chat and exchange news and opinions. Steampunks are social creatures, and the Victorian afternoon tea has proved itself a firm favorite among their social engagements.

Tea drinking as a ritual first originated in ancient China, later spreading throughout the Orient in the elegant formal tea ceremonies of Japan. Europe was still in the Dark Ages, quaffing mead and small beer with no idea of what it might be missing! Fortunately, civilizing tea was eventually introduced to Europe by Dutch explorers in the 1600s. The English East India company would bring it to England as a gift for the wife of Charles II.

During the 1700s, tea, also called tay or chay, gradually replaced coffee as the British beverage of choice. Queen Catherines preference for tea as the beverage of choice among courtiers popularized it as a drink suitable for both ladies and gentlemen. Soon, tea would outstrip silk as Chinas biggest export.

The Duchess of Bedford is credited with the invention of afternoon tea as a meal in the mid 1840s. Feeling rather peckish between her light midday luncheon and the elaborate evening dinner at Woburn Abbey, she took to having a cup of tea with a few little cakes and invited friends to partake. It is possible that Queen Victoria, whilst visiting, enjoyed this ritual, for as the idea spread it quickly became the most popular meal of the Victorian day, with the food becoming ever more exciting.

In perfect Steampunk serendipity, it was a machine that revolutionized fancy baking in the Victorian era. Gas-fired ranges were amongst the exhibits at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Although their popularity was not immediate, later models brought the technical aspects of baking ornate pastries and elaborate cakes, hitherto seen only in continental patisseries, well within the reach of the domestic cook.

So much for tea, you say, but what about Steampunk? Who are these Steampunks and why should we want to take tea with them? Well, Steampunk has been variously described as an art movement and a subculture, but what it boils down to is Victorian science fiction. It is a very general term used to describe a wide variety of activities, creations and people who share a common interest in blending the historical with the scientifically fantastical. It is often typified by a specific look of Victorian-styled clothing, brass pipes, gears and rivets into which historical elements, such as mahogany rayguns, short skirts, brass rockets and other imaginary steam- or clockwork-driven inventions are incorporated.

Steampunk design turns up in films such as Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes and Luc Bessons The Extraordinary Adventures of Adle-Blanc Sec. There are Steampunk bands, exhibitions, markets, books, art and conventions, all created and attended by those who love the genre. There are also tea parties galore, filled with tea and cake; chatting; sandwiches; dress up; biscuits; being creative; and dont forget scones!

If you enjoy some or all of the above, then I hope this book may help you release your inner Steampunk and share your adventures with family and friends. The different themes demonstrate different approaches to Steampunk; though, with a little tweaking, any recipe can be suitable for any occasion! Now, may I invite you to sit down with a nice cup of tea and accompany me on a wonderful adventure to Biscuits and Beyond!

Love,

Emilly Ladybird

Dear Lady Lyssa,

I am most taken with this luxury airliner mode of transportation, and I think you would enjoy it immensely, too. Ones every wish is answered almost before the thought pops into ones head; like magic, a charming brass assistant appears to service your desires, whether it be a glass of something lovely or a pair of binoculars with which to view the sunset over Jupiter.

The dresses of the lady travelers are glorious, too. Fashions from every corner of the galaxy are represented; star motifs continue to be popular, as does Arcadian silk. Bustles seem to be bigger than ever, which can lead to some interesting impasses in the corridors. I have been collecting fashion magazines for you from every planet we call on and will send them en masse by the Mail when we get to Gemini Major.

I have been a little concerned about the proximity of air kraken once or twice, but there is so much to do on board the ship, quite apart from admiring the views, that any worries are soon driven quite away. Well, I must be offI am taking tea this afternoon at the captains table with a most convivial party!

Love,

Emilly

Lavender Creams

Venusian Delight

Chocolate Elegance Scones

Gin and Tonic Cake

Airship Cake Pops

Steamer B Gin Tea Cocktails

Egg Mayonnaise with Cress Sandwiches

Fine Sliced Cucumber Sprinkled with Vinegar Sandwiches

Earl Grey Tea

Dainty debutantes are supposed to sit still for hours, having their hair curled while admiring the view of the outer moons from the luxury of their state cabins. They are not supposed to gallivant about enjoying themselves!

Abandoning her plate of lavender creams, Miss Honeykirk had slipped away from her chaperone for only a minute when the sounds of a jolly country dance seemed to beckon her down the filigree stairwell to the part of the ship she had been warned never to venture into. The noise of revelry grew louder; the sound of dancing feet and cheers was quite unlike anything she had encountered on the elegant dance floors of Elara or Sinope. A laughing couple pushed past her, hand in hand, swinging the door open and enticing Miss Honeykirk to join the dance.

20g (34 oz.) icing sugar

1530g (1-2 tbsp.) fresh lavender flowers (according to taste) or 815g (121 tbsp.) of dried lavender