
Diplomatic storm is brewing over ‘sad' British afternoon tea
It was meant to be a display of British refinement and delicacy, a demonstration of the delights of scones, jam and clotted cream. But British diplomats in Japan have been thrown onto the defensive after indignant complaints about the quality of a traditional afternoon tea.
The storm in a tea cup blew up at the Expo currently being held in the city of Osaka. Visitors to the UK Pavilion are invited pay ¥5,000 (£26) each for a 'Four Nations Traditional Afternoon Tea' featuring Welsh jam, Scottish smoked salmon and Cornish cream. But the organisers have been assailed by complaints about sloppy service and mass-produced Japanese cakes served on Swedish trays.
One social media user gave vent to her frustration in a series of vivid

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