A Nice Cuppa

The English ceremony of Afternoon Tea dates back to the 1840’s but it was not???t something that was ???invented??? but rather the evolution of rituals and routines that surrounded tea drinking in Britain before that time.

Contrary to what many believe, Afternoon tea may have been started by the French and not the British, according to the monthly newsletter called Tea Muse. It’s a little known fact that after its introduction to Europe in the 17th century tea was tremendously popular in France. It first arrived in Paris in 1636 (22 years before it appeared in England!) and quickly became popular among the aristocracy .

The ships that carried the tea from China and Japan to Europe also brought in, as part of their cargo, porcelain teapots, tea bowls and neat little jars for storing the tea. Like the new exotic drink, these attracted the attention of the rich who bought some for their own use at home. They were stored, not in the kitchens or dining room cupboards, but on shelves in the lady’s private closet - a small room near or next to her bedchamber where she received visitors and offered them some refreshment. From the 1660’s, that refreshment was usually tea.

According to legend, one of Queen Victoria???s ladies in waiting, the Duchess of Bedford was the ???creator??? of the afternoon teatime. Because there used to be two meals a day, she would start feeling faint at around four o clock in the afternoon. Her servants would sneak a hot pot of tea and some bread. Adopting the social aspect, already established in Europe, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at around five at Belvoir Castle. The menu consisted of small cakes; breads butter sandwiches, sweets and tea. This pause in the day became a social event and during the 1880???s upper class women would dress in long gowns, gloves and hats and would gather around four or five o??? clock to enjoy an afternoon together. The Dutchess??? gatherings became so popular that other ladies of society began hosting similar afternoon teas. Although it began as a time in the day to satiate hunger it has become much more that that. It has become a social affair, a conversation gathering, a cultural ceremony.

Two distinct forms of tea service evolved: High and Low. It is common to believe that High Tea and Afternoon Tea are the same thing Social gatherings (usually ladies) would get together to drink tea, eat sweets and little sandwiches. Nevertheless these English ceremonies have been mimicked throughout time and the world. Dainty little social events, where one drank tea, ate sweets and little sandwiches.

Afternoon Tea is also called Low Tea, it was served in the ???low??? part of the afternoon in the homes of the wealthy and featured gourmet tidbits, emphasizing in presentation, service and conversation. Low Tea was typically taken in the sitting room, or a room with low tables(coffee tables) and sofas. Afternoon tea is probably the one that comes to mind when you think of English Tea.

There are three basic types of ???low tea???
Cream Tea ??? Tea, scones, jam and clotted cream
Light Tea ??? Tea, scones and sweets
Full Tea ??? Tea, savories, scones, sweets and dessert

Many people mistakenly use the term “High Tea” to describe the Afternoon Tea, probably because it sounds more regal. But High Tea or ???Meat Tea??? is much different. It was served later (around six in the evening) and consisted of a full, dinner meal for the common people. During the second half of the Victorian Period, known as the Industrial Revolution, working families would return home tired and exhausted. The table would be set with different kinds of food such as: meats, bread, butter, pickles, cheese, eggs and of course tea. None of the dainty finger sandwiches, scones and pastries of afternoon tea would be on the menu. Because it was eaten at a high, dining table rather than the low tea tables, hence the term “high” tea.

Note from the editor: This is part one in a two part series. Please stay tuned for part 2 - Creating your own Afternoon Tea