My grandmother was actually married to a tea planter in India and she would always give me a very hard time if I poured the water into the pot and it was not boiling properly!Īnd of course, the milk always goes in last, once the tea is in the cup, not the other way around!! Afternoon tea in London These days many people tend to use tea bags, rather than loose tea. In the UK, afternoon tea would traditionally be served from a teapot using black tea, and many people have their own ways to make the perfect cup. Twinings Earl Grey with some egg salad sandwiches We still drink Twinings Earl Grey at home, with a splash of milk, of course! In fact, I have one next to me right now as I write. ![]() I remember being brought up on Twinings Earl Grey tea at home (Twining opened his first tea shop in 1717) and my mother used to love the Chinese Lapsang Souchong (which was far too smokey for my liking!). By the middle of the 19th century, it was the most popular drink amongst the working classes. With the development of trade and tea rooms across the country, tea drinking became a national pastime in the British Isles, and the British Empire, and it still is. It became very popular in England after being introduced by the East India Company in the 17th Century when it was a prized product amongst the aristocracy. Now more than 100 million cups a day in Britain alone, apparently. Well ever since the British found out about tea, they have drunk quite a lot of it. So really, teais the major common denominator between the two. But it is not surprising that people think this, as many places in the UK even market afternoon tea as high tea, but this is really more a marketing ploy to attract tourists, who may not know the difference. Outside of the UK, many people think that ‘ afternoon tea‘ is called ‘ high tea‘, but this is a common mistake. You will find that in the North most people still refer to their evening meal as ‘ tea‘ as opposed to ‘dinner’ or ‘supper’. I studied at University in the North of England and can concur that the names for these meals have remained. I remember that having tea at the evening meal was also something I found very strange when I moved up North from the South as a studying 18-year-old.Ī Shepherd’s Pie. What is high tea time? This could be any time after 17.00 and could include anything, but would likely be a hot meal like a meat pie or something similar, and perhaps some cakes. Many of the factories in the 19th century were situated in the Midlands and the North of England, and coming home the workers would be famished and would want to eat straight away. High tea (and it is high tea, not hi tea or hi-tea) is a reference to a meal that would be enjoyed by the working classes after a hard day in the factory. But if you are outside, in England during August, you may need to cover the jam to keep the wasps away! What is High Tea? Afternoon tea was still enjoyed every day by The Queen, until her recent passing, it is claimed.Īfternoon tea can be enjoyed inside or outside, depending on the weather. It would have been an important part of society in many parts of the British Empire back in the day.Īfternoon tea would typically consist of finger sandwiches, cakes, pastries, scones with jam and cream, and other sweet or savoury treats. The timing of a cricket tea break will depend on the game format, the start time, and in England at least, the weather!Īfternoon tea was introduced in the 19th century and became a fashionable social event for the upper classes where people would meet up and chat. ![]() This happens both in village cricket matches as well as international Test matches, where the tea break will be 20 minutes. These days it is still common to stop for a tea break during cricket matches when afternoon tea will be served to the players. Originally it would be something that the British upper classes would enjoy, as, of course, they needed some way to bide their time and gossip. Afternoon tea time is normally around 16.00. What is Afternoon Tea?Īfternoon tea refers to the meal which would be taken towards the end of the afternoon which would keep you going until supper or dinner at around 20.00. ![]() I am myself by birth very English, and even I confess to having been confused by the different terms. ![]() OK, I have called this post ‘afternoon high tea’ because there is some confusion as to the meaning of afternoon tea and high tea, and I thought I would have a go at tackling that briefly here. It will also help you understand the difference between ‘ high tea‘ and ‘ afternoon tea‘, as there is, quite understandably, some confusion as to the meaning of both terms.īelow I will link to some of my easy afternoon tea recipes that will enable you to prepare your own English afternoon tea. This post will give you some afternoon tea ideas and recipes to let you organize your own afternoon tea party at home. Jump to Recipe English Afternoon High Tea Time
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