The Dog's Afternoon Tea: How Enid Blythe Brought a British Institution to Orlando

I have always believed that dogs deserve the finer things. Not occasionally, not as a treat, but as a matter of principle. It is, after all, the founding philosophy of Enid Blythe, that the dog in your life deserves to be treated with the same consideration you'd give any other member of the household. So when the opportunity arose to host an afternoon tea party for dogs in Orlando, it felt less like an event and rather more like an inevitability.

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A British Institution, and Its Origins

Afternoon tea, as most people know, is a British invention. What most people don't know is quite how accidental it was.

In 1840, Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, found herself hungry. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late — eight o'clock or thereabouts — leaving a long, uncomfortable gap between lunch and dinner that the Duchess found increasingly difficult to bear. Her solution was quietly radical: a tray of tea, bread and butter, and small cakes, taken privately in her boudoir around four in the afternoon. She then began inviting friends to join her.

Within years, afternoon tea had become the most refined social institution in England. By the 1880s, upper-class women were changing into long gowns and gloves for the occasion. It was, quietly, one of the most liberating social developments of the Victorian era — a room full of women, in their own space, on their own terms, exchanging ideas and a considerable amount of gossip, free from the formality of the dinner table.

It was invented, in other words, for exactly the kind of gathering we had in mind.

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The Setting: House of Sploot, Orlando

There are venues, and then there are the right venues. House of Sploot in Orlando is emphatically the latter.

A pet boutique that understands, as we do, that dogs are not an afterthought in a well-considered life, House of Sploot opened its doors — and its rather magnificent backyard garden — to Enid Blythe for an afternoon that none of us will forget in a hurry. The garden was the making of it. Sunshine, space, the particular kind of easy elegance that only an outdoor setting provides, and enough room for a considerable number of dogs to conduct themselves with varying degrees of decorum.

The guests of honour were, without question, the dogs. Puppies of every description. Corgis in quantities that would have delighted Queen Victoria herself. The humans were, as they should be, merely permitted.

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The Teas: Bellocq Tea Atelier

A dog's afternoon tea requires tea of the highest possible quality. There was only one choice.

Bellocq Tea Atelier is among the most refined tea companies in the world — an inconspicuous jewel box tucked into a quiet corner of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where single-estate teas are sold exclusively whole leaf, and organic tea and herbal blends are still assembled by hand. What many people don't know is that Bellocq opened originally on Kings Road in London in 2010 — making them, in the very best sense, kindred spirits for a British-born brand hosting an afternoon tea in America.

The teas served were chosen entirely with the dogs in mind. Every blend caffeine-free, every cup served cooled to the appropriate temperature. Because yes, dogs can drink tea. And yes, they absolutely should.

Here is what we served, and why —

Chamomile — the most gentle and versatile of herbal teas. Chamomile is known for its calming properties, making it particularly useful for anxious dogs or those easily overwhelmed in social settings. It also has mild anti-inflammatory properties, helpful for dogs with skin irritation or digestive sensitivity.

Peppermint — excellent for digestion and, rather usefully at an event attended by this many dogs in close proximity, a natural breath freshener. Served in small quantities and always cooled.

Rooibos — naturally caffeine-free, rich in antioxidants, and extraordinarily gentle on the digestive system. South African in origin, rooibos has been consumed for centuries for its health benefits and is one of the safest and most beneficial herbal options for dogs.

Hibiscus — a beautiful, jewel-coloured infusion high in antioxidants and with noted benefits for heart health. Served cooled, it is both visually striking and genuinely good for the dogs drinking it.

Ginger — for the dogs among us with sensitive stomachs, motion sickness, or a general tendency toward digestive complaints. Ginger is one of the most effective and well-researched natural remedies for nausea in dogs.

Dandelion — a quiet powerhouse. Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, dandelion tea supports liver health and provides a meaningful nutritional contribution in a single cup.

Echinacea — chosen to support the immune system, particularly useful for younger dogs still building their natural defences. Puppies, of whom there were many, benefited greatly.

Alongside the teas, bone broth was served — warm, nourishing, and met with the kind of enthusiasm that the teas, however elegant, could not quite match. Dogs, it turns out, have priorities.

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A Note on Florida and Afternoon Tea

It should be noted — and we find this rather satisfying — that Florida was once British territory. In 1763, Spain traded the entire Florida peninsula to the Crown of Great Britain. Afternoon tea in Orlando is therefore, strictly speaking, less an import and rather more a homecoming.

We felt it only right to honour that history accordingly.

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What Came Next

The afternoon unfolded with the kind of gentle chaos that only a garden full of dogs can produce. Corgis presided over proceedings with considerable authority. Puppies discovered that bone broth is, in fact, the finest thing that has ever existed. Standards were upheld, mostly.

It was, by any measure, a proper occasion.

House of Sploot made it everything we hoped it would be, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and their remarkable backyard. Bellocq brought an elegance to the tea service that the dogs were, frankly, entirely indifferent to — but that mattered to us enormously.

We are already thinking about where to go next. The question, as we put it to our followers, is simply this: where shall we go next?

If your city is ready for a Dog's Afternoon Tea — do let us know. We are, as always, all ears.

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Teas provided by Bellocq Tea Atelier. Hosted by House of Sploot, Orlando. All teas were served cooled and caffeine-free. Please consult your vet before introducing herbal teas to your dog's diet, particularly if your dog has existing health conditions.

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Enid Blythe makes luxury orthopedic dog beds designed to support your dog throughout every stage of life. Five percent of every sale goes to canine cancer research — in memory of Atticus, and for every dog who deserves more time.