The terms ‘afternoon tea’ and ‘high tea’ are often used interchangeably; however, there are differences, including both the origin and the food served. Let’s look at these in more detail.
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is a British tradition established by the Duchess of Bedford in the 19th century. Wanting something to fill the gap between lunch and dinner, she asked for tea at 4pm, accompanied by finger sandwiches, cakes, and scones with clotted cream and preserves. As she invited friends and family to join her, a new tradition was born when they began to host their own afternoon teas.
Although starting as an aristocratic tradition, afternoon tea is no longer the preserve of the upper class. Restaurants across the country offer them; alternatively, you can host them at home. If you do not want to make the components yourself, a convenient way to enjoy an afternoon tea is with an afternoon tea box delivery from a company such as www.afternoonteabox.com. Different companies provide different options for different tastes; what’s more, afternoon tea box delivery makes a thoughtful gift for a birthday or other special occasion.
High tea
High tea, although also a late afternoon meal, has working-class origins. The workers would not have had the chance to sit down to eat until after 5pm, by which time they would need something a lot more substantial than finger sandwiches. While they would still have what was probably a much-needed pot of tea, it would accompany a hot meal such as meat, fish, vegetables, and baked goods.
Tea today
Today, most people do not have the time for a lengthy afternoon tea, so it has become a treat often reserved for a social gathering. High tea is now a term rarely used, with this meal often referred to as dinner, supper, or simply tea. This is something that can lead to confusion; if you are offered tea, it may not be clear whether you are being offered a cup of tea, an afternoon tea, or an evening meal!
Summary
This article explains the difference between afternoon tea and high tea, terms often used interchangeably. Afternoon tea began as a 19th-century aristocratic tradition started by the Duchess of Bedford, with finger sandwiches, cakes and scones. High tea has working-class origins, served after 5pm with a substantial hot meal. Today high tea is rarely used, which can cause confusion over what being offered tea means.
Questions this article raises
- Why did afternoon tea move from an aristocratic tradition to something available to everyone?
- Which regions of the UK still commonly use the term high tea today?
- What other foods, besides a hot meal, traditionally accompanied high tea?
