From classic Devon cream teas and luxury biscuit hampers, to quirky selection boxes and alternative dietary options, our review encompasses a wide range of brands across the country, incorporating well known outlets and more local offerings. So as well as indulging your sweet tooth, you’ll be helping to support local businesses, which should certainly add to the feel-good factor. Feast your eyes on this sumptuous spread of afternoon teas by post and prepare to strike up that classic scone debate from home: jam or cream first?
We’ve also got plenty more foodie inspiration to enjoy at home, including the best restaurant meal kits and vegetarian meal kits, as well as vegan hampers, chocolate gifts and best gift delivery for foodies. From letterbox brownies to beer boxes and gin subscriptions, these tempting treats are sure to brighten up your post.
Still dreaming of going out for afternoon tea? We’ve got you covered with these reviews of the best afternoon teas in London and best afternoon teas in the UK.
The best afternoon tea deliveries at a glance
- Best afternoon tea delivery for a homemade feel: Mother Supper ‘Cuppa Rosie’ afternoon tea delivery, £60 for 2 people
- Best classic afternoon tea delivery for gifting: Cutter & Squidge afternoon tea at home, £29.90
- Best alternative sweet hamper: olive shop sweet treats hamper, £59.99
- Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like scones: Dukeshilll Afternoon Tea hamper, £64
- Best letterbox afternoon tea delivery: M&S afternoon tea letterbox, £18
- Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like sandwiches: Piglets Pantry classic afternoon tea, £38
- Best all-rounder afternoon tea delivery: Pique afternoon tea hamper, £45
- Best afternoon tea delivery for sandwiches: Kettle and Crumb traditional afternoon tea for two, £49.50
- Best traditional Devon afternoon tea: Devon Heaven afternoon tea hamper, £30
- Best modern afternoon tea delivery: Sketch afternoon tea, £55
- Best Welsh afternoon tea delivery: Daffodil Foods Deluxe Welsh Afternoon Tea Gift Box, £26
- Best blowout afternoon tea delivery: The English Cream Tea Company Banoffee Edition Afternoon Cream Tea, £83.75
- Best vegan afternoon tea delivery: Piglets Pantry vegan afternoon tea, £30
- Best Cornish afternoon tea delivery: Rick Stein vegan afternoon tea box, £40
The best afternoon tea deliveries in the UK 2023
Mother Supper ‘Cuppa Rosie’ afternoon tea
Best afternoon tea delivery for a homemade feel
Produced by a small family business based in south London, this joyful hamper of goodies has a homemade touch, but delivers fully on flavour, vibrancy and quality. Rather than traditional finger sarnies, you’re treated to an eclectic range of artisan focaccia and mini bun sandwiches, alongside pastries, sweet baked goods and scones with jam and clotted cream. On the classic menu, our highlights include a meaty sausage and leek roll encased in buttery flaky pastry, punchy Cajun chicken focaccia and sweet chilli jam and cheddar bun. There’s also a vegetarian option, available with the likes of hummus and roast pepper focaccia, as well as feta, spinach and sweet potato pastries. A final mention should go to the two luscious loaf cakes provided in this tea set, comprising a decadent cherry and chocolate cake, plus moist lemon drizzle topped with edible flowers. Portion sizes are very generous for two, and could easily be shared by a family of up to four.
Cutter & Squidge Afternoon Tea At Home
Best classic afternoon tea delivery for gifting
Renowned for its beautiful array of cakes and bakes, London institution Cutter & Squidge’s afternoon tea at home does not disappoint. This high quality, yet affordable offering for two is available throughout the UK. For just under £30, you can enjoy a classic combination of buttery scones with Rodda’s clotted cream, Cutter & Squidge’s strawberry jam and the brand’s own fine loose leaf English Breakfast tea. An added luxury are the two melt-in-the-mouth lemon drizzle loaf cakes and rich, chocolatey brownies, which provide a satisfyingly sweet ending to the tea. All comes packaged in a cheerful orange box and the food is kept chilled with ice packs, so make sure to warm your scones in the oven for 5-7 minutes before serving.
Available from:
Cutter & Squidge (£29.90 for two people)
olive sweet treats hamper
Best alternative sweet hamper
For a twist on a classic afternoon tea, this sweet treats hamper makes a brilliant gift option for someone with a sweet tooth. The olive team of editors have curated a selection of their favourite artisan sweet products for this irresistible selection that makes a perfect afternoon tea break. There’s tea and coffee, plus gingerbread thins, Rococo chocolate, Booja Booja caramel truffles and more for a very decadent 4pm treat.
Available from:
olive shop (£59.99)
DukesHill Afternoon Tea Hamper
Best afternoon tea hamper if you don’t like scones
Scones aren’t for everybody, so this decadent hamper is packed with different treats to create an afternoon tea feast. Start with the light fruit cake studded with squidgy sultanas and mixed fruit. Our standout item was the rich slab of chocolate tiffin topped with fudgy chocolate icing – you won’t be able to resist sneaking back to slice yourself second helpings! A tray of sticky golden flapjacks is equally hard to resist, whilst a chic box of chocolate mendiants and buttery Scottish shortbread have longer shelf lives so you can make the treats last longer. A box of Darjeeling teabags is included to wash it all down. It is all delivered in a smart wicker basket that you can keep as handy storage, and also makes it easy to hand deliver to a lucky loved one if giving as a gift.
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Available from:
DukesHill (£64)
Marks & Spencer afternoon tea letterbox
Best letterbox afternoon tea delivery
Know someone who can’t resist popping into M&S for treats during their lunch hour or on road trips? This afternoon tea-inspired letterbox delivery would make the perfect gift. Although not complete with classic scones and jam, for just £18, you’ll get a box filled with classic M&S cakes and bakes, along with teabags. The buttery Viennese swirls will disappear incredibly quickly, followed by the classic Victoria sponge slices, fudgy chocolate brownies and iced carrot cakes, with 2 of each to share. A bag of buttery shortbread fingers keeps the tea going until the next day too. The individual slices do make more plastic packaging but are good for taking on the go. A simple, wallet-friendly way to post an afternoon tea to a friend who can’t get to an M&S themselves.
Available from:
Marks & Spencer (£18)
Piglets Pantry Classic Afternoon Tea for Two
Best afternoon tea delivery if you don’t like sandwiches
For lovers of a savoury snack, this pastry-packed afternoon tea box, available through Virgin Experience Days, is sure to impress. An award-winning food producer based in West Sussex, Piglets Pantry was initially know for its artisan handmade pies and pastries, but has now extended its range to bespoke hampers and afternoon tea boxes. After unwrapping the eye-catching pink packaging, you’ll discover a splendid array of sausage rolls, scotch eggs and quiches in place of traditional sandwiches. These are accompanied by plain buttermilk scones and a selection of four dainty loaf cakes. A particular highlight is the generously filled mini sausage rolls with cheese and pickle. On the sweet side, we can’t get enough of the beautifully moist carrot cake with thick soft cheese frosting. With such a handsome selection of goodies, it’s best to tackle this takeaway hungry.
Available from:
Virgin Experience Days (£38 for 2)
Pique afternoon tea hamper
Best all-rounder afternoon tea delivery
Picnic specialist Pique is all about delivering gourmet hampers to your door: from picnics to brunches, party food to a ‘pub in a box’. The afternoon tea hamper is £45, with a classic or vegetarian menu and the option for add-ons such as champagne. The afternoon tea arrives in a cardboard carrier sweetly designed to look like a picnic basket. Inside, each course comes in individual recyclable cardboard boxes with clear lids (also handy if you want to save any of the tea for later) and feels like a treat to unbox.
This tea is perfect for those who love the savoury courses: a chorizo scotch egg had subtle heat and an impressive runny golden yolk, while caramelised apple sausage rolls were well seasoned with crisp pastry. The trio of sandwiches are simple: coronation chicken, herby egg mayo, and grated cheese with tomato chilli jam, plus a generous smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel each. Dinky scones come with classic clotted cream and Pique’s own jam, before finishing off the tea with a slice of lemon drizzle cake each and two striped paper bags of pleasingly fudgy double chocolate brownie bites. Pique advises eating the tea within two hours of its arrival but we found the brownies and cake both kept well for a few days. A vegetarian menu is also available.
Available from:
Pique (£45), Not on the High Street (£60)
Kettle & Crumb Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two
Best afternoon tea delivery for sandwiches
Freshly made on the day of shipping, this is a traditional afternoon tea packed with flavour and care. Kettle & Crumb sends an indulgent set that is excellent value for money and has plenty of options to suit everyone, from choosing a tea for one or adding prosecco, to veggie and vegan menus.
In the traditional tea for two, you can taste the quality from the outset with well-seasoned sandwiches made from delicate white bread and rye loaves. The salmon is silky, the chicken and tarragon are a star combination and even the egg and cress sandwich feels hearty. From the savouries, both caramelised onion and smoky chorizo sausage rolls were highlights, respectively not too sweet or spicy. To end the occasion there are classic scones with cream and jam, followed by the stars of the sweet course, the cakes. The carrot and walnut slice was well-spiced and light, the lemon drizzle was perfectly baked and tart and the brownie had a rich cocoa flavour. We also appreciated that all the packaging is either reusable, recyclable or compostable and there is even a handy recycling guide included.
Available from:
Kettle & Crumb (£49.50 for 2, £75.50 with prosecco)
Devon Heaven Afternoon Tea Hamper
Best traditional Devon afternoon tea
A traditional cream tea hailing straight from the heart of the West Country. This award-winning hamper from Devon Heaven delivers all the classic components whilst showcasing the best of the area’s produce. The four buttermilk scones are made by local chef Richard Hunt and are a cross between Devon splits and the standard scone, giving them a lighter texture which doesn’t crumble apart. The jam is made from Devon-grown strawberries, whilst a generously sized container of clotted cream comes courtesy of Jersey and Guernsey cows on the local Langage Farm. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy rounding off the experience with a selection of treats: a pack of crisp shortbread with strawberry centres, two mini chocolate brownie pieces and our personal favourite, two flapjacks topped with a generous layer of yogurt icing.
If you want an extra layer of luxury, why not splash out on the Prosecco & Truffles Afternoon Tea (£55) or Celebration Cream Tea (£70)– both hampers come with an additional selection of sweet treats and bottles of bubbly.
Available from:
Devon Heaven (£30 for 2-4 people)
Sketch MMmm… Afternoon Tea
Best modern afternoon tea delivery
Looking for an afternoon tea with a difference? Sketch’s exquisite hamper offers a taste of Mayfair luxury from the comfort of your home. Housed in a stylish pink box, it comprises a seasonal selection of delightful patisserie, fingers sandwiches and savoury buns alongside a star-shaped scone, fruity preserve and clotted cream. Flavours change seasonally and you can pick your scone and jam preferences. From a delicate bergamot macaroon and lusciously light chocolate buckwheat cake to truffle buns, egg gougères and cherry Battenberg, this tea takes your tastebuds on a fun and flavourful journey. A rich and creamy blend of JING-Yunnan Gold tea is included to wash it down, but you can also order a bottle of Pommery POP Champagne (additional £15) or Pommery POP Rose Champagne (£19) for some extra pizzaz. As well as the original afternoon tea, sketch is offering a vegetarian and a pescatarian alternative.
Available from:
Sketch (£55)
Daffodil Foods Deluxe Welsh Afternoon Tea Gift Box
Best Welsh afternoon tea delivery
Break away from the traditional and sample a mouthwatering array of Welsh teatime treats. Based on the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in the foothills of Snowdonia, Daffodil Foods is a family business that produce its own desserts, compotes and dairy products, as well as partnering with Welsh food service companies and bakeries to showcase the best of the country’s produce. The brand’s recently launched clotted cream and own brand raspberry compote are included in the afternoon tea box, along with award-winning bara brith from Popty bakery, Welsh cakes, scones, Welsh mature cheddar, salted Welsh butter and fair-trade tea bags. The attractive Daffodil designed gift box allows you to personalise the delivery with greeting cards, ribbons and gift wrapping, making it ideal for treating someone special.
Available from:
Daffodil Foods (£26 for two people)
The English Cream Tea Company Banoffee Edition Afternoon Cream Tea
Best blowout afternoon tea delivery
For lovers of banoffee pie, this delicious offering from The English Cream Tea Company is a dreamy affair and makes a fun alternative to traditional afternoon tea. Star of the show are the special edition banana and coffee scones, which come with soft toffee mixture, fresh clotted cream and banana, ready for you to assemble at home. Also included are more classic components like luxury afternoon teabags, shortbread, meringue whirls and dainty finger sandwiches. Round it off with some award-winning brownies and moist lemon drizzle slices and you’ll be left feeling fully satiated and satisfied. If banoffee isn’t your favourite flavour, there are also classic and vegan versions of the afternoon tea available, and you can add champagne to any of the hampers for an extra £36.
Available from:
The English Cream Tea Company (£83.75 for two people)
Piglets Pantry Vegan Afternoon Tea
Best vegan afternoon tea delivery
Looking for a vegan afternoon tea? Treat yourself to a stunning spread of dairy- and egg-free delights from Piglets Pantry. As well as the classic offering mentioned above, this purveyor of fine pastries also includes a range of free-from options. The seasonally changing vegan tea comes complete with light and fluffy scones and whipped vegan ‘butter’, gorgeously spongy loaf cakes and a set of savoury pastries. For us, the highlights are the veggie-packed scotch ‘eggs’ and flavourful leek and tarragon tarts finished with a beautifully crisp pastry – flavours change seasonally. Perfect for a Mother’s Day celebration or special event, this tea is sure to be enjoyed whether you’re following a vegan diet or not.
Available from:
Piglets Pantry (£30 for two people)
Rick Stein afternoon tea box
Best Cornish afternoon tea delivery
Housed in a compact, wave-adorned box, this seasonally changing afternoon tea selection from Rick Stein is full to the brim with a range of sweet and savoury treats. Stein’s offering is a traditional menu featuring cheese palmier, quiche lorraine and two sausage rolls. No afternoon tea box is complete without a cream tea, and this box includes two buttery, fruit-spiked scones, Rodda’s clotted cream and strawberry jam. Famed for his love of Cornwall, Stein advises the scones are to be prepared ‘the Cornish way, it has to be jam first.’ Perfectly baked cakes round out the tea: ours included an indulgent chocolate cake and a Dundee cake filled with plump dried fruits. To enjoy alongside the feast are four bags of Yorkshire tea, ideal for single servings or to use in a teapot for an authentic afternoon tea experience.
Hailing from Cornwall, we’d expect nothing less than a totally traditional afternoon tea. All components are delicious, and we noted the savoury bakes and scones have a rustic, handmade – but still high-quality – feel, indicating they’ve been lovingly made rather than mass-produced. This indulgent box is best suited to two or three (if you’re willing to share), and would make the perfect gift for those who love a classic afternoon tea.
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