A lot of people have asked me what is the difference between Afternoon Tea and High Tea and most people think that High Tea is the grander of the two teas. So, here is a little history on both teas.
Afternoon Tea
Tea has been enjoyed in England since the late 1600's, but, Afternoon Tea (or "low" tea) was introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford (one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting) in the year 1840. In those days the upper classes ate their dinner fashionably late, around 9 p.m., and this left a large, foodless gap in the middle of the day. The Duchess would become hungry around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and she began to request a tray of bread and butter, cake, and of course tea, be brought to her room to assuage the "sinking feeling" she would feel. Later she began to invite friends over to join her for these refreshments and the tradition of afternoon tea began. This pause for tea soon became a fashionable social event in which the whole of England indulged. By the 1880's the upper class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea, which consisted of dainty sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream, lemon curd and preserves, cakes, pastries and tea, and it was usually served in the drawing room from coffee tables or "low" tables (hence the term "low tea"). Today afternoon tea is traditionally served between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and still consists of basically the same dainty sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries and sometimes will include a trifle or some other large dessert. There are a whole heap of rules (which I won't even get into) on the proper etiquette for taking tea, for instance on how and when to add sugar, lemon or milk to your tea, how to stir your tea, the placement of your teaspoon, proper holding of your cup, correct order of food, etc., etc., and on and on, but today afternoon tea is much more relaxed... and I say just enjoy it however you want!
High Tea
High Tea, also referred to as "meat tea", although often considered tea in the afternoon, is historically based on a tea that was served as an early evening meal, originally reserved for the working classes, and is so called because it was served at a "high" table or dining table rather than at a "low" table or coffee table as in afternoon tea. Because they were restricted by money and labor laws the working classes were not able to participate in taking afternoon tea, but during the Industrial Revolution in England, working classess adopted a variation on afternoon tea for themselves, a heavier meal served with tea, and working families returning home from work (often without having taken a break), would set the table with hearty fare such as meats, potatoes, bread and butter, cheese, pickles, and tea. There were no dainty finger sandwiches, pastries or scones such as in afternoon tea, and sometimes farmers and laborers would even have to return back to work after this evening break. Thankfully that is no longer the case. Today, some regions in England still refer to their main evening meal as "tea" and it can be served anywhere from 5 p.m. to as late as 7:30 p.m.
So, there you have it. Afternoon Tea is definitely the grander of the two. Just think of "high tea" as a meal and "afternoon tea" (low tea) as delicious and dainty finger foods!
