Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was raised in England at the court of Queen Victoria, so she faithfully followed the tradition of the five o’clock tea. With tea, a hot kalach and a plate with butter were usually served. During Lentseason and other times of religious fasting, butter was excluded. Instead, the table hosted baranki, bread rolls, and peeled nuts.
It was not uncommon for the five o'clock tea to also be served with beautiful cookies, penny rolls, milk roses, amazing puff buns and twisted salty loaves, which, warmed up, turned out just delicious
The Emperor drank two glasses in cup holders, always with milk, and ate fresh rolls with excellent butter from the Tsarskoye Selo or Peterhof farm. (x)
"The empress herself became sociable and cheerful as soon as she set foot on the deck of the Standard. The Empress took part in the children's games and talked to the officers for a long time. These officers obviously occupied a very privileged position. Some of them were invited to the highest table every day. The emperor and his family often accepted an invitation to tea in the mess hall."
("At the Court of the Last Russian Emperor" by Alexander Alexandrovich Mosolov (Head of the Court Chancellery,) 1935)
