Although these two tea-taking traditions may seem interchangeable, they are two different traditions. Both tea and light meals are the core of both traditions. There are however some important differences that one should be aware of if they do not know the British customs.
High Tea
A meal of the working class, high tea is usually consumed at around 5 o’clock. It traditionally involved filling meals with a lot of flavour and pot of tea. This is a tradition that goes back to the 19th century in Britain. It is known as ‘High’ tea because people would sit at a table with chairs with a high back. The meal consisted of meat or fish, vegetables and of course, plenty of tea. It was a substantial one, meant to feed men and women after a long day at work.
We now call it ‘dinner or supper’. Many of us still call this meal ‘tea,’ but over time the “high” tradition has faded. It can be more elaborate if served in a fancy restaurant or hotel.
Afternoon Tea
Having tea and food together is a bit of a British tradition. Afternoon tea has evolved over the past two centuries, but its core concept remains unchanged: dainty pastries and sandwiches served with hot tea. The tradition began during Edwardian times, when women would gather at hotels during late afternoon to enjoy a leisurely afternoon and gossip while enjoying a variety of treats and tea. For Afternoon tea boxes, visit https://www.afternoonteabox.com
Over the years, new variations have been introduced — scones with jam and cream piled high on top of each other. No matter what way it is served, afternoon tea has become a symbol of British culture.
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