While the true origins of afternoon or 'high tea' is debatable, it is widely agreed that it was 'invented' by Duchess Anna Maria, the wife of the seventh Duke of Bedford, who in 1841 started drinking tea and having a bite to eat in the mid-afternoon. This was to tide her over during what was a lengthy gap between lunch, which was eaten at around 1pm and dinner, had around 7pm.

Initially taken on her own, it swiftly developed into a social occasion as soon the Duchess was inviting guests to join her for afternoon tea at 5 o'clock.

By the 1860s the fashion for afternoon or 'high' tea had become widespread and had evolved into decadent affairs, with tea drunk from the best china and bite-size morsels of food presented delicately on small china plates. On regular offer were bread and butter, traditional scones, cakes and finger sandwiches.

On the strength of Britons' love for tea, London hotels have started to bolster the profile of afternoon tea by adding thematic twists to the traditional ceremony.

The Metropolitan Hotel in London has just launched Afternoon De-Light, which they proclaim is a quintessentially British occasion with a touch of avant-garde, waist-friendly chic. In other words, you can gorge on iced-cakes, macaroons and scones with minimal impact on your waistline and conscience.

The menu combines healthy intepretations of old classics, such as sweet and savoury cup-cakes and "no bread" sandwiches, using healthy-alternative ingredients such as flour substitutes and créme fraîche instead of cream. Fresh fruit purees replace unrefined sugar and olive oil is used instead of butter.

To drink is a selection of fruit infusions, mocktails and eco-tinis made with London Gin. I recommend the Ultimate Iced Tea.

If your waistline is of no concern why not try Chocolate Afternoon Tea at Brunello, in the Baglioni Hotel, Kensington. Combining British tradition with Italians' love of a hot chocolate and pastry in the afternoon, everything on the menu is either made from chocolate or is chocolate coated - except for the finger sandwiches of course.

Start with the Italian chocolate stirrer, over which hot milk is poured to create a creamy, rich authentic hot chocolate. Follow this up with a chocolate scone topped with hazelnut chocolate spread, a selection of chocolate brownies, pastries and truffles and even the most hard-core chocoholic will be sufficently satisfied. A selection of teas and champagne is on offer.

Flemings Hotel in Mayfair also do a comparative chocolate afternoon tea and here even the sandwiches involve chocolate containing such fillings as spiced chocolate chicken and lamb, rosemary and cocoa.

Meanwhile, the Mandeville Hotel has been successful in winning over the male market with it Mens' Afternoon Tea.

By offering a more masculine-type menu featuring a wide selection of hearty morsels such as roast sirloin sandwiches and chicken satays to double chocolate brownies, complemented by a selection of the finest whiskies, the hotel has managed to make afternoon tea a main event on many mens' calendars.

Other teas with a twist include Laduree high tea at the Athenaeum. Laduree is world-renowned for its tea shop in Paris and its famous macaroons and patisseries. The Athenaeum is the only hotel to work with Laduree and now serves the ultimate indulgence of a Laduree Tea in its Garden Room.

Swissotel, The Howard has brought an element of funk to the ceremony with its 'Afternoon Beats' Champagne Afternoon Tea. Relax in the hotel's Mauve lounge sipping tea and champagne to a jazz DJ playing urban beats.

At The Park Lane a strawberry afternoon tea is available, where like the chocolate-themed tea, almost everything is made from or with strawberries.

TOP FIVE HIGH TEAS WITH A TWIST

1 Afternoon De-Light: organic, low-fat and health-conscious

Where: The Metropolitan Hotel, Mayfair

How much: £24. Eco-tinis and mock-tinis extra

Book here

2 Mens' Afternoon Tea: more meaty, savoury selections aimed at men

Where: The Mandeville Hotel, Marylebone

How much: £22.50; whiskey option £30

Book here

3 Brunello Chocolate Afternoon Tea: chocoholics dream

Where: Baglioni Hotel, Kensington

How much: £28; £36 with glass of champagne

To book: 020 7368 5700

4 Laduree Afternoon Tea: famous French macaroons and patisseries

Where: The Athenaeum Hotel, Picadilly

How much: £40 including a glass of Laduree rose champagne

Book here

5 Afternoon Beats: sip tea to live jazz music

Where: Swissotel The Howard,

How much: £30 including a glass of house champagne

To book: 020 7836 3555

Click here for a comprehensive list of hotels serving high tea throughout the UK and book a table for afternoon tea.

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