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HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA
In
the past whether you took "afternoon tea" or "high tea" was a peek into
your social standing. Afternoon Tea was a light elegant meal served
between a light lunch and late dinner, usually between 3 o'clock and 5
o'clock, and was mainly confined to the aristocracy with their
leisurely lifestyle. High Tea was a more substantial meal, including
meat and/or fish, and was really a early dinner which well suited the
middle and lower classes after a long day at work.
'Afternoon
Tea' did not exist before the 19th century. At that time lunch was
eaten quite early in the day and dinner wasn't served until 8 or 9
o'clock at night. But it wasn't until Anna, the seventh Duchess of
Bedford, asked for tea and light refreshments in her room one
afternoon, around 1830, that the ritual began. The Duchess enjoyed her
'taking of tea' so much that she started inviting her friends to join
her. Before long having elegant tea parties was very fashionable.
Demand for tea wares grew and soon there were tea services in silver
and fine bone china, trays, cake stands, servers, tea caddies, tea
strainers, teapots, and tea tables.
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“The
Lady of the house did the pouring, and the setting is formal indeed.
Today, as long as the setting is gracious and elegant, the tea party
can take place anywhere you wish”
- “The Charms of Tea”
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"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea"
- Henry James
"Tea
is much more than a mere drink in Britain. It is a solace, a mystique,
an art, a way of life, almost a religion. It is more deeply traditional
than the roast beef of old England....This khaki-colored concoction,
brewed through an accident of history from an exotic plant grown
thousands of miles from fog, cricket and left-handed driving, has
become the life-blood of the nation.”
- Cecil Porter of Gemini News Service
In
nothing more is the English genius for domesticity more notably
declared than in the institution of this festival - almost one may call
it - of afternoon tea....The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the
mind to happy repose."
- George Gissing (The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft)
“The
cozy fire is bright and gay; the merry kettle boils away, and hums a
cheerful song. I sing the saucer and the cup; pray, Mary, fill the
teapot up, and do not make it strong.”
-Barry Pain (Poets At Tea)
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HISTORY OF AFTERNOON TEA
In the past whether you took "afternoon tea" or "high tea" was a peek into your social standing. Afternoon Tea was a light elegant meal served between a light lunch and late dinner, usually between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock, and was mainly confined to the aristocracy with their leisurely lifestyle. High Tea was a more substantial meal, including meat and/or fish, and was really a early dinner which well suited the middle and lower classes after a long day at work.
'Afternoon Tea' did not exist before the 19th century. At that time lunch was eaten quite early in the day and dinner wasn't served until 8 or 9 o'clock at night. But it wasn't until Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, asked for tea and light refreshments in her room one afternoon, around 1830, that the ritual began. The Duchess enjoyed her 'taking of tea' so much that she started inviting her friends to join her. Before long having elegant tea parties was very fashionable. Demand for tea wares grew and soon there were tea services in silver and fine bone china, trays, cake stands, servers, tea caddies, tea strainers, teapots, and tea tables.
*************************************************************************************
“The Lady of the house did the pouring, and the setting is formal indeed. Today, as long as the setting is gracious and elegant, the tea party can take place anywhere you wish”
- “The Charms of Tea”
*************************************************************************************
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea"
- Henry James
"Tea is much more than a mere drink in Britain. It is a solace, a mystique, an art, a way of life, almost a religion. It is more deeply traditional than the roast beef of old England....This khaki-colored concoction, brewed through an accident of history from an exotic plant grown thousands of miles from fog, cricket and left-handed driving, has become the life-blood of the nation.”
- Cecil Porter of Gemini News Service
In nothing more is the English genius for domesticity more notably declared than in the institution of this festival - almost one may call it - of afternoon tea....The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose."
- George Gissing (The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft)
“The cozy fire is bright and gay; the merry kettle boils away, and hums a cheerful song. I sing the saucer and the cup; pray, Mary, fill the teapot up, and do not make it strong.”
-Barry Pain (Poets At Tea)
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