AFTERNOON TEA SLUMP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15229, 29 May 1920, Page 3

AFTERNOON TEA SLUMP.

LACK OF SUGAR SPOILS THE CUP. LONDON, March, 20.-rThe Hotel Review says that the 'afternoon tea habit is m danger of losing its popularity. People do not like "the detectable tablots of saccharine." It is all a question of sugar. A Daily Chronicle representative who visited several West End tea shops found some evidence m support of the view that there is a slump m tea-taking. At one tea shop visited 11 pieces of saccharine were brought with a. pot of tea for one; the cakes were good, but the margarine indifferent. There were several vacant seats. "We are crowded out for lunch," said the proprietress," but have not so many people for tea as we used to have. Although butter Ja decontrolled, we cannot afford to give it at 4a 6d a pound ; and sugarless tea and bread and margarine aro not very appetising. Rather than ha.ye unsweetened tea, many ask for milk, which they drink with" cake or pastry. In war-time people carried sugar with them ; the sugar scarcity is as bad now, but customers are less tolerant than they were, and will not trouble lo bring their own sugar to tea shops."