Most of you are perhaps already familiar with the term of afternoon tea as there are quite many afternoon-tea cafés pop up and get popular today. Afternoon tea is actually part of English tradition since centuries ago. As you know, English is known for its tea-drinking culture or also known as teatime.
All English people, both royalties and ordinary people, love to drink tea. They even have this worldwide popular tea called English breakfast. In England, drinking tea specifically describes a lifestyle, social class, and kinship. English people normally drink tea with a variety of snacks, such as cakes and biscuits.
Besides afternoon tea, there is another popular term related to English tea-drinking tradition, which is high tea. So, what’s the difference between afternoon tea vs high tea?
Afternoon Tea
As the name tells, afternoon tea is an English tradition of drinking tea in the afternoon. The best time to serve afternoon tea is at 4 PM with biscuits, cakes, macaroons, scones, and so on. This tea-drinking tradition has been going on in England since the past 2 centuries ago, around the 19th century. According to The Spruce Eats, it was Anna, The Duchess of Bedford who introduced this tradition in the early 19th century.
This tradition originated from the habit of women and daughters of royalties and upper-class nobles to rest in the afternoon while gossiping and socializing. Afternoon tea isn’t meant to replace dinner. Instead, it is used to fill the time between lunch and dinner. For years, this tradition keeps developing, from the place to the snacks served with the afternoon tea.
High Tea
If afternoon tea is highly associated with the upper class and royalties in England, on the other hand, high tea is the drinking-tea habit of the working class in the country. Entering the industry era, workers surely couldn’t follow the afternoon tea at 4 PM as they’re still working. Generally, the working-class people in England didn’t have tea until 5 or 6 in the afternoon.
Another difference is if the afternoon tea is normally served on a small table with low chairs, high tea, instead, is served on a high, big table. The use of this homemade, dining table and ordinary stools adapts to the simplicity of the working class in England. This is why it’s called high tea. Also, it’s not possible for the working-class people to serve high tea with scones and biscuits.
Therefore, they only have this drinking-tea tradition on special occasions, like Thanksgiving. High tea is frequently combined with dinner to save time, instead of just a snack to fill the time between lunch and dinner. That’s why high tea is often served with heavy meals, such as bread, potatoes, fish, grilled meat, and so on.
Top Places to Have Afternoon Tea in England
If you happen to travel to England and want to try the afternoon tea tradition, there are some top places in the country where you can experience it the best. Here they are.
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
Located in York, Bettys Café Tea Rooms is a cute place that has been serving tea and cake for a hundred years. Besides their delicious tea, you can also enjoy their gorgeous decoration here. Bettys Tea Room serves their tea with warm scones, as well as jam and clotted cream. Yummy breakfast and lunch options are available as well.
Now, Bettys has 6 tea rooms in total across Yorkshire, which are Bettys Ilkley, Bettys Northallerton, Bettys Stonegate, Bettys Harlow Carr, Bettys Harogate, and Bettys York. If you don’t have the chance to visit York, yet you are dying to taste their cake, don’t worry. Bettys also offers a mail-order service to deliver their cakes, chocolates, and other goodies around the world.
Mr Fogg’s
If you want to enjoy afternoon tea in an ancient England vibe, Mr Fogg’s is the place you should visit. Here, you can witness various unique decorations, such as an ancient bicycle, European country flags, and even classic watches. Mr Fogg’s serve these unique Victorian styles of tea. Try their alcoholic fruit tea served with a cocktail, soft sponge cake, and macarons. If you don’t consume alcohol, they also serve other types of delicious tea.
Time for Tea
Located in Wanstead, East London, Time for Tea is a traditional tearoom suitable for enjoying afternoon tea with your beloved ones. Here, you can find and enjoy homemade, tasty food, cakes, and desserts. Combining various pastel colors, the interior design here is adorable. They serve various tea, including English Breakfast and Earl Grey.
That’s the difference between afternoon tea vs high tea. Have you tried this trend?
