England is famous for many things. The London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, double-decker busses and of course, tea. Tea is to England what apple pie is to the United States. Steeped in tradition, tea is not only a beverage of choice but also an important aspect of Britain's social history. One of these traditions, the English High Tea, remains an important element in the life of the British.
The practice of serving English high tea is often imitated, but never duplicated. In North American resorts, hotels and tearooms, English high tea is often served in early afternoon with an array of sweets and pastries. While certainly elegant, these are not true "high teas".
In order to explore the proper method of serving English high tea, you must first understand a little bit about the history of England. When the practice of taking high tea was first introduced, the people of England enjoyed two main meals each day: breakfast in the morning, and dinner in the evening. Breakfast meals usually consisted of bread, beef and ale. The evening meal, however, was a veritable smorgasbord. This meal was served as the sun began to set, and would come to be known as "high tea".
English high tea, as we know it, was introduced by a woman named Anna, Duchess of Bedford. The duchess was fond of inviting friends to visit for dinner, where she would practice with the menu and serve high tea. Other ladies of society began to follow suit, and eventually "high tea" became a popular time for social gatherings.
The popularity of English high tea picked up during the second half of the Victorian Period, also known as the Industrial Revolution. During this period, working men and women would return home exhausted, and prepare high tea for refreshment. The table would be set with quick and easy food choices like bread and butter, cheese, meat, pickles and of course, a pot of tea. There was none of the fancy finger foods, tiny crustless sandwiches or rich desserts that adorn today's mock "high tea" tables.
As a final note, the evening dinner tea was served at a high dining table, rather than on lower tea tables. This presentation may have been the basis for the name of "high tea".
If you want to impress your North American friends with a high tea party, some fancy sandwiches and sweets should do the trick. But if you're ever called to task and serve high tea to British guests, wait until the afternoon sun begins to fade, and serve your tea with some hearty fare. You'll score high points for your English high tea.
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