Chicago businesses embrace British tea traditions

From a cozy English-style inn to a decadent downtown hotel, Chicagoans love engaging in the British tradition of afternoon tea. As young adults show less interest in alcohol than other generations and Brit-centric media like "Bridgerton" become smash hits, afternoon tea experiences are only getting more popular across the United States, including in the Windy City.

Afternoon tea has English roots going back centuries, and by sipping tea and eating tiers of treats, Chicagoans can step into another culture, experiencing the same time-honored tradition that British royalty did hundreds of years ago.

"People are delighted by the pomp and circumstance that permeates British culture," James Barnett, the general manager of the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, told ChicagoGlobal. And, at the Deer Path and beyond, that culture means tea.