With the growth in popularity of serving tea to friends and family, inevitably, a new set of rules also came into being. “Tea etiquette” became the rage, and new conventions and a new vocabulary quickly evolved.
There were many different kinds of meals and occasions that were called “tea”. Today the terms “low tea” and “high tea” are often used incorrectly in the United States.
A formal affair, “low tea” was called this because the tea and food were served on low tables next to armchairs on which the guests were seated.“High tea,” on the other hand, indicated and still does a less formal, family affair served at 5.30 or 6.00, when workers returned from the field and children were home from school.
High tea, also sometimes called “meat tea.” Was much more substantial meal served on a kitchen or dining table, and included savory meats, soups, puddings and sweets and lots of robust tea.
High tea, the referred not to “high society” but to the height of the table.
“At home tea” and “tea receptions” were huge social events that often included as many as two hundred guests.
People customarily dropped by anytime between four and seven in the evening to enjoy bountiful displays of food and tea.
High and Low Tea
