Tea Time

Tea Time

Hello everyone, today I would like to talk about tea time.

History

The tradition of tea time was started by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who was said to have suffered from “afternoon slump” and found comfort in taking a light meal along with tea. This quickly caught on among the upper classes and eventually became a widely accepted social event.

You might have heard of Afternoon Tea, High Tea or even something called Elevenses. But what are they exactly? Here’s a short primer on the three English tea times:

Elevenses

Elevenses is, surprise, tea served around 11 in the morning and is a late-morning work break that involves a light snack, like muffins, scones or biscuits - and a hot tea or coffee.

High Tea

High Tea, despite its name, actually began with the lower classes. For workers in the newly industrialized Britain, tea time had to wait until after work. This after-work meal was more often hot and filling and accompanied by a pot of strong tea.

Afternoon Tea

Calling it “high tea” may have been a way to differentiate it between afternoon tea traditionally served on low, comfortable, relaxing chairs and the worker’s after-work tea served at the table and seated on high back dining chairs.

Afternoon Tea originated as a “bridge” between the light lunches and late dinners served in the early 1800s. Afternoon Tea usually occurs between 3 and 4 pm. It’s an elaborate affair with finger sandwiches and an array of scones, cakes, macaroons and other bits to nibble.

Tea time offers an opportunity to take a break, relax, and catch up with friends and family. It’s also a time to enjoy a variety of teas, from traditional black tea to more exotic blends like green tea or chai. The food served during tea time is usually light and bite-sized, making it perfect for snacking or a pre-dinner treat.

All in all, tea time is a British tradition that dates back to the mid-17th century. It is a time for taking a break from the day and enjoying a cup of tea along with light snacks such as sandwiches and pastries. Tea time is usually taken in the afternoon, between 3 and 4 pm, but there are also other tea times.

Thank you for listening.