ArticleMap.com

English High Tea Tips

England is known for many wonderful things, like the London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, double-decker busses and of course, tea. Tea is to England what apple pie is to the United States of America. Steeped in tradition, tea is more than a beverage of choice; it's an important aspect of Britain's social history. One of these traditions, English High Tea remains an important element in the life of the British elite.

While many imitate the practice of serving English high tea, it's not easy to duplicate it. North American resorts, hotels and tearooms will often offer "English High Tea" with an array of sweets and pastries in early afternoon. These parties are certainly elegant, but 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".

A woman named Anna, Duchess of Bedford, was credited with introducing the form of English high tea that we know today. Fond of inviting friends to dinner, the Duchess would experiment with the menu as she served high tea. Other ladies of society began to follow suit, and "English High Tea" eventually became a popular time for social gatherings.

Popularity of the English high tea gained momentum during Industrial Revolution, the second half of the Victorian Period. Working men and women returned home exhausted and prepared high tea for refreshment.

The table was set with quick and easy food choices including bread and butter, cheese, meat, pickles and of course, a pot of tea. There were no fancy finger foods, tiny crust-less 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 choose to impress your North American friends with an English high tea party, you may do the trick by serving some fancy sandwiches and sweets. If ever called to task with British guests, however, wait until the afternoon sun begins to fade, and serve your tea with some hearty fare. You'll certainly impress with your proper English high tea service.

Article Source: http://www.articlemap.com

Contributor Sadie Bedgegood enjoys writing articles for a variety of web magazines, such as nugot.com and lerse.com.

Please Rate this Article