High Style Entertaining with English High Tea
Sadie Bedgegood
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.
The practice of serving English high tea is often imitated, but never duplicated. In North American resorts, hotels and tearooms, English high tea is often served in early afternoon with an array of sweets and pastries. While certainly elegant, these are not true "high teas".
Exploring the proper method of serving English high tea begins with a little history lesson. Many years ago, the practice of taking high tea was introduced as the people of England enjoyed a morning breakfast and evening dinner as their two daily meals.
The breakfast meal usually consisted of bread, beef and ale, while the evening meal was a veritable smorgasbord. This meal, served as the sun began to set, 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.
The popularity of English high tea picked up during the second half of the Victorian Period, also known as the Industrial Revolution. During this period, working men and women would return home exhausted, and prepare 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".
Trying to impress your North American friends with an English high tea party? You may pull it off by serving some fancy sandwiches and sweets. But, if ever called to task with British guests, you'll need to wait until the afternoon sun begins to fade and serve your tea with some hearty fare. That's how to enjoy English high tea, the way the English do.
Contributor Sadie Bedgegood enjoys writing articles for a variety of popular web magazines, on http://nugot.com/ family life and http://lerse.com/ my family themes. This article is available as a http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=36065&b=79 unique content article with free reprint rights.
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