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Cultural Tip - high and low tea
Is your tea high or low?
We’ve all heard of the British afternoon tea if not even experienced it somewhere in Britain and the image we all probably think of is a dainty room with lovely sofas, charming little tables, and an assortment of teas and finger food, delectable scones, jam and clotted cream.
Indeed, this is the most favoured way of drinking tea, or at least it is advertised that way.
However, some people would say that there are as many ways of hosting a tea party as there are types of teas - infinite, and they wouldn’t be very wrong.
Nevertheless, we will rather focus on two most traditional ways of hosting a tea party, the so-called High Tea and the Afternoon (Low) Tea.
When it comes to High Tea, the very first association would probably be that it is a type of a tea party that is even more elevated and sophisticated than the ‘regular’ afternoon tea. And you would be wrong.
Although there are some interpretations that High Tea indeed came out of the basic afternoon tea as a separate, more glamourous version of an afternoon tea party for nobility and VIP persons, it is quite the opposite, and it actually makes sense.
High Tea is served on high tables, with no chairs, usually in the early evening hours (around 6:00 or 7:00 pm) and it is ‘attended’ by members of the working class. It is the first meal that the working class eats after a long laborious day so other than the tea, that in Britain goes with everything, the food served is actually not what you would expect. Long working day of predominantly manual labour ends in a hearty meal and food such as meat, fish and bread.
Some would even call it dinner, but then again, in Britain, why not call it a tea if possible?!
Low Tea (or the Afternoon Tea) is the type of a tea party other (read: not British) people expect when thinking of a five o’clock tea. It is tea served earlier in the afternoon, at tables of usual heights and with chairs around the table. It is served after lunch so it includes lighter snacks such as tea sandwiches, sweets and scones with jam and clotted cream. It’s meant to represent a sort of a formal social gathering.
These days there are many versions and ‘hybrid’ tea parties offered to an average tourist, with different names and wide assortments of tea and finger food.
However, if you want to experience a truly British type of an afternoon (low) tea, ask around where the traditional five o’clock tea is served. And one more very important thing. If you opt for a five o’clock low tea, do not be foolish as I recently was in London and come at 5:00pm to enjoy it. Five o’clock tea is actually served at 3:00 or 4:00 pm UNTIL 5:00pm.
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(from a personal collection)CURIOSITY: Alongside the ‘basic’ types of tea parties, there is one in particular that stands out as truly British the so-called ‘Royal Tea’. What do you think this type of tea has it different from the types we’ve just explained? I am sure you’ve guessed it. Royal Tea is afternoon (low) tea served with a glass of champagne. Cheers!
