High Tea

[mikey4444]

I was trying to explain to some American friends what High Tea means here in Britain and I was struggling !

What does High Tea mean to everybody ?

[albaqwerty]

To my mind, it's a light snack between lunch and dinner.

A couple of sandwiches and a cake, with the obligatory cup of tea.

[rowanwitch]

A bit more than afternoon tea... a hot snack then cake... and tea

[mikey4444]

Thanks guys. I always thought it was a bit more substanial than Afternoon Tea, in that it should include include some sandwiches, and even better, something hot, like cheese on toast.

[commoner]

You could try the Ritz. London...

Traditional Afternoon Tea

Ham Sandwich with Grain Mustard Mayonnaise on White Bread
Cheddar Cheese Sandwich with Chutney on Onion Bread
Cucumber Sandwich with Cream Cheese, Dill, and Chives on Caraway Seed Bread
Chicken Breast Sandwich with Horseradish Cream on White Bread
Scottish Smoked Salmon with Lemon Butter on Rye Bread
Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich with Chopped Shallots and Watercress on White Bread
Freshly Baked Raisin and Plain Scones with Cornish Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve
Assortment of Afternoon Tea Pastries and Cakes.

Just £42 per person..mmm...

[mike11111]

To my mind high tea includes something eaten with a knife and fork, such as a ham salad etc.

[mike11111]

Chambers defines it as a cooked meal served in the early evening.

[commoner]

Here in Yorkshire when I was a kid..and now sometimes...we had our dinner in the middle of the day and our tea at about 5pm (cooked) then we had supper at 8/9 pm....so we must have been having High Tea..mmm...

[scoobydooh]

sat in a aeroplane at 36,000 ft now thats high tea or coffee.

[mikey4444]

I know that £42 is a lot of money but if you get all that food....well it doesn't sound too bad does it ?

When I was very young we lived in Central London. I can remember my Grandmother taking me to the Ritz for tea. I was only 5 or 6 but I recall that it was terribly posh and I had to behave myself, or else !

My Grandmother was very grand indeed. Another thing I remember is being with her and my younger brother in Town, again when we were both quite young. We had to pee, as little boys always have to, normally about 10 times a day. My Grandmother would never have taken us to a public toilet, so she marched into the Dorchester. There was a magnificently attired dooman on duty. My Grandmother asked where the toilets were and he enquired if we were guests at the hotel.

"Good heavens" she replied, " I would never stay in a place such as this ! " She then swept pass him and carried on into a very posh Ladies !

Those were the days !

[lankeela]

Finest bone china being brought out of the front room, cucumber sandwiches, jam in a little jar with a spoon and tea from a teapot. Ladies wearing hats and gentlemen in beige trousers and short sleeved shirts.

[woofgang]

High tea definitely has one or more hot courses.

[Euphemia]

High tea consists of one main course followed by bread/scones with butter and jam, cakes and pastries.

[Maydup]

I've no idea what High Tea is, nor whether anyone other than aristocrats actually take it. I'd tell the American friends that its an old fashioned tradition that few people keep these days.

We just have breakfast, a bit of lunch and an evening meal. Who has room for anything in between?

[Maydup]

^^^ as you can see, my teapot is in pristine condition through lack of use!

[shoota]

http://oxforddictiona...?region=us&q=high+tea

[FredPuli43]

Tea at the Ritz is not 'high tea' . It's just 'tea'. High tea means, to me, an early supper, a meal usually including something cooked, such as ham and eggs or an omelette.

[guilliebrougues]

High Tea in Scotland means that you have toast and jam or bread and jam as a starter, then a small maincourse then an assortment of small cakes to follow.

[guilliebrougues]

forgot to mention that this meal is usually served between 5 and 6 in the evening.

[McMouse]

I thought it was where golfers put the ball at the start of each hole.