Afternoon Tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

This pause for tea became a fashionable social event in which the whole of England indulged. During the 1880's the upper-class and society women were changing into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon teas. The afternoon tea was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o'clock, and provided the host to show off her good taste and refinement.

Today, the proper afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream, lemon curd and preserves. Cakes and pastries are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon are usually poured from silver tea pots into delicate bone china cups. It was customary to have nice linen, flowers, soft music and fine china.

High Tea

High Tea was served around six o'clock and is in reality a hearty evening mail. It was started in England as a ploughman's or workingman's supper of strong tea served with ham, roast beef, leg of lamb, bread and butter, pastries, custard and cakes. Many in America still think that High Tea is the elegant tea and confuse it with the afternoon tea.

Excerpt taken from “English Tea Parlor Teas”

Enjoy Afternoon Tea -  Tea At 1024