Every afternoon, Anna experienced what she referred to as a "sinking feeling" every afternoon around 4 o'clock in the long interval between lunch and dinner. One afternoon in 1840, she plucked up her courage and upset the household routine, and requested that her servants bring her tea and petite-sized cakes to her boudoir. Her request became a matter of habit and rather than break it she spread the idea of tea parties served in the home amongst her friends.

Many followed the Duchess' lead, and thus the ritual of afternoon tea was born. In fact, a culture of sorts emerged around the tradition of drinking tea. Fine hotels began to offer tea rooms, while tea shops opened for the general public. Tea dances also became popular social events at which ladies met potential husbands.