Care UK residents enjoy afternoon tea with a twist

Residents at Care UK’s Mountfitchet House in Stansted were recently transported down memory lane with afternoon tea and a special video presented by BBC food historian Dr Polly Russell.

Chef Aidan Kelly prepared traditional sandwiches, slices of Victoria sponge and pastries, while Dr Polly talked through each food item and the history of afternoon tea. Residents were also encouraged to share their associated memories.

The event was part of Care UK’s new Food for Thought initiative which uses food as a tool to evoke happy memories.

Jane Maxwell, home manager at Mountfitchet House, said: “Residents had a fantastic time learning about the history of afternoon tea, which has been a quintessential English custom for many years. Reminiscence can be incredibly beneficial for older people, and interactive activities like this can provide an opportunity to re-live happy times.

“We had a wonderful time listening to Polly while enjoying our own afternoon tea. It certainly provided ‘food for thought’ and it was brilliant to see how people’s faces lit up as they reminisced and shared their own memories throughout the session.”

As well as hosting a session on the history of afternoon tea, Dr Polly has worked alongside Care UK chefs to create a nostalgic tasting menu featuring dishes from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. This menu is designed to be served alongside a different video where Dr Polly talks residents through the history of each dish as they try them.