Tea-Tastic Day on the Orient Express with Yorkshire Tea


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First featured on my website Clandestine Cake Club 

Milk in first – Mify or Tea in First – Tify? That’s the question I am asking you today. I’ll tell you which I am at the end of this write up.

Yorkshire Tea lovers as we are, the Gent and I travelled to London to join hundreds of other Yorkshire Tea fans on the Orient Express. I have to tell you that my original guest is gutted that she couldn’t come. She is an afternoon tea fanatic and would have been cock-a-hoots at being on this magical journey. So rather than search for another guest,  I thought why not let my OH have some of this Tea – tastic ( My favourite word ATM) fun as well. So we caught the 8.15am train from Leeds and headed to London for what was to be a magical journey indeed.

Now I’ve been to London quite a few times over the past few years and believe me, finding your way around the London Underground does take some doing, so I made a mental note to remember that I had my OH with me because I tend to get into the zone of where I need to be and just aim for it. I had the Victoria Line firmly in my sights and we managed it and soon arrived at Victoria Station where our tea journey was to begin.

I had my iPad with me and began taking loads of pictures to share on social media. I wanted to share the journey with all my followers. And yes, CCC is sponsored by Yorkshire Tea during 2013, but I was a Yorkshire Tea drinker long before then, so speak from the heart when I tell you that I love this tea.  It wakes me in the morning, refreshes me during the day and calms me down in the evening. I must get through around 8 – 10 cups in a day, proper cups I mean, on a saucer, with the odd mug of Taylors Coffee around 11am.


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We had a delicious afternoon tea with freshly made sandwiches which came to our table when we sat down.

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And we got to take these little beauties home, all nicely washed and wrapped in tissue paper.

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Jake’s Bar 27-33 Call Lane Leeds served his tea cocktail called The Tea Cup and here is the recipe. I had 3 glasses, if anyone saw me walking through the carriages with Miss Cindy in a staggeringly manner, it was the movement of the train and nothing to do with the alcoholic content nor the glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne we had earlier. This cocktail was delicious and refreshing.

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I loved the way our tables and seats were laid out in our carriage. It allowed everyone to talk to each other and we did.

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Two Yorkshire Tea ladies Hannah and Paula joined us and filled us in on Yorkshire Tea gossips and updated us about Little Urn. In fact Paula, seated on the right, is one of Little Urn’s drivers.

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It was one of those days that you didn’t want to end, the company we had were wonderful, the brass band played for us as they worked their way through the carriages. Michael Vaughan the ex England Cricket captain sent us off on our tea-tastic journey and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction travelled on the train as well. I have to admit that as I walked through each of the carriages I didn’t recognise him, but then I am 60+ so why would I. But I did pass a very nice young man in one of the carriages and did wonder if it was him. I Googled the name when I got home and discovered that it indeed was him. I hope Louis and his family enjoyed the day relaxing before he and his fellow band members begin another singing tour. I wish them all well.

As I took lots of pictures to share with all my followers on social media I eventually exceeded my internet download allowance and quickly had to top up. This day was all about Yorkshire Tea and if like me you are a drinker already, you will know why I love it. If you are not a tea drinker or never tried a cup or two, then you are missing out on a ‘proper brew’.

Yorkshire Tea can be used in many ways when it comes to baking. Soak some dried fruit overnight in freshly brewed and strained Yorkshire Tea before making a tea loaf the next day. Grinding a few teaspoons of dry leaves in a mortar and pestle gives a much finer grain which can be added directly to fruit cakes and tea loaves for an extra kick of tea flavour or as a substitute for the absence of spices.

Enjoy the pictures, I enjoyed taking them. If you are in any of them and want a copy please email me and I’ll send you one. Lynn@clandestinecakeclub.co.uk

ps I’m a Mify – Milk in First

For more pictures taken on the day, hop over to Clandestine Cake Club website 

The pleasures of an Afternoon Tea


Gwyn and I

Gwyn and I

When it comes to enjoying an Afternoon Tea out, home made baking is definitely the best.  The Gent and I had just that over in Bowdon Manchester the other week. We were invited by Gwyneth Brock and Jane Ellis both avid bakers and Vintage Afternoon Tea providers, to give a talk about the Clandestine Cake Club, enjoy some delicious home baking and meet some really nice people. The weather was not conducive to travelling over the pennines, but as we reached Saddleworth Moor, the highest point of the M62, the weather turned in our favour and we arrived a little early so found a parking spot and decamped for a coffee at a local cafe.

When we found the church/community hall, we were very pleasantly surprised to find it was a gem of a place, full of charm, where my immediate thoughts were what a wonderful place to enjoy an Afternoon Tea. Virgin cocktails awaited us and after signing a few CCC Cook Books that Gwyn and Jane had ordered for attendees to buy, we soon began to enjoy fresh finger sandwiches, scones and cakes eating them all to a back ground of  1950′s music. Chatting to the people next to me is something I like to do, and I tried my best to speak to as many people as possible, there were well over 30, even after the finishing time had passed, I still didn’t manage to speak to everyone. My apologies.

Gwyn Jane and their band of baking helpers made several cakes from the CCC Cook Book. Including the Finish Mothers Day cake.

Tomorrow, Sunday 17th March, The Gent and I are off to CCC Durham Dales to help them celebrate their first birthday. I love my road trips, thankfully we are going in the car, hate cold train stations, I think they were the cause of my general rundownness over these passed few weeks. Thankfully now back to 99.9% and feeling a darn site better.

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Finish Mother’s Day Cake

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Crispy Lemon Cake

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Elderflower Cordial Cake

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Mocha Marble Cake

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St Luke’s Church Bowdon Manchester

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Simnel Cake

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I miss my Afternoon Teas #JustSaying