Tea Party Diva - Life & Craft

High Tea and Afternoon Tea - Basic Differences

High Tea sounds very grand. Tea houses often boast up to four sittings per day. Upmarket hotels all over the world offer High Tea.

In the greater scheme of things, what they call it, probably doesn’t matter, especially with yummy goodies on offer. However, strictly speaking, these are not High Tea.

The origins of Afternoon Tea is credited to a hungry British duchess who wanted a snack between meals. Even today, light refreshments is what we can expect for Afternoon Tea. High Tea is more of a meal with meats, breads, pickles, cakes, fruits, and of course, tea.

Victorian England - High Tea as an Evening Meal

In Victorian England, during the Industrial Revolution, when workers came home tired, High Tea was often the substitute for the evening meal. The evening meal was served at about 7.00 or 8.00 pm.

Even today, in England and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, the evening meal or dinner is also known as “tea”.

Victorian England - High Tea as a Daytime Feast

High Tea was also sometimes also served as a big daytime feast. A typical High Tea occasion would be a gathering centered around a sports event, such as archery or croquet. Cassells’s 1922 Book of Etiquette gives a wonderful description of an outdoors High Tea 1922 style.

Origin of the Terms - High Tea & Afternoon Tea

There are various theories about how the terms High Tea and Afternoon Tea came about. One is that High Tea was the family sitting at a high table, hence the name High Tea.

Afternoon Tea was more a social get together seated in lounges and chairs around a low table - coffee table style. This gave rise to the term Low Tea or Afternoon Tea.

Does It Mattter Whether You Call it High Tea or Afternoon Tea?

Enjoy the elegant 3 tiered cake stands and delicate morsels of your next “High Tea”. Take in the ambience of a beautifully presented table with silverware and fresh flowers.

It probably won’t matter to you that it should be called Afternoon Tea. After all, what’s in a name when it comes to good company, good food and good tea?

However, it is interesting to know that the origins are vastly different, as are the teas themselves.

Even today, High Tea intimates a more regal and grand occasion. Afternoon Tea is usually a more casual, relaxed get together. High Tea does sound grand though, so the choice is yours.

Times Past