It’s exactly 3pm, and it’s time for High Tea. Wrong! Actually, it is time for Low Tea, which is Afternoon Tea. Unfortunately, the term afternoon tea has been mistaken for high tea because high implies better or upscale. In reality, high and low refer to tables. Traditionally, afternoon tea for the upper class was served on low tables whereas as after work tea for the lower class was served on high tables.
There are several types of afternoon/low tea ranging from cream tea (a meal of scones, cream and tea) to full tea (add savories, which are salty and spicy foods such as finger sandwiches, and petits fours/small desserts) to Champagne tea (add Champagne).
Susan’s Secret: When having tea time, etiquette means everything. Click here to watch a video concerning tea manners such as approaching the tower and using fingers versus utensils.
Image Credit: Cornish Cream Tea courtesy of Clare Bloomfield at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.