5 Spectacular Kinds of Tea Events You’ll Love

If you are a tea enthusiast chances are you’ve indulged in the delight that is afternoon tea. Teacups and saucers, teapots full of warm steaming tea, and a plethora of sandwiches, sweets, and scones might have been presented to you on a three-tiered stand or served to you in courses and you enjoyed every scrumptious bite and sip. 

Thanks to popular shows like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, afternoon tea is starting to become more of a sought-after enjoyment. But, do you know where afternoon tea came from? — And do you know the difference between each kind of tea whether it’s afternoon tea, high tea, or royal tea? 

How an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up Became a Tradition

You might be surprised to hear that afternoon tea came about quite by accident, thanks to the invention of the kerosene lamp in 1840. At the time aristocratic families ate only two meals a day — a large breakfast and a hearty and elaborate dinner. After artificial light replaced candles those dinners were taken later in the evenings around 8 o’clock. One woman, in particular, was not fond of this routine. 

A Humble Afternoon Snack

Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, found the long wait between meals to be unbearable and would complain about a “sinking feeling” in her stomach. She began to order tea, bread, and cakes to her room around 4 o’clock to ease her hunger in between breakfast and dinner. It wasn’t long before she started to invite her friends to share in her casual pick-me-up afternoon snack. 

A Cake for Queen Victoria

The Duchess traveled to London, where she introduced her afternoon tea tradition to her friend Queen Victoria. The Queen also left her influential mark on afternoon tea. She requested that a sponge cake layered with cream and fresh raspberries be served as well. Today, this dessert is known as the Queen Victoria Sponge Cake. Afternoon tea was a relaxing and calm occasion that involved sitting in parlor chairs among shorter, low tables — or coffee tables — as opposed to a taller dining table. For this reason, afternoon tea was also called “Low Tea”. 

From Anna’s Bedroom to the Drawing Room and Gardens

The news of such pleasant and delicious afternoon tea gatherings spread across the town and then the country. The knowledge of this new midday outing spread across the country, and soon it became a tradition for the aristocrats to have fashionable tea in the afternoon. Wealthy ladies would dress up and make a big to-do of afternoon tea — later on, men would start to join them in their festivities. What started as a private small meal in the Duchess’ bedroom soon became a regular public event that was enjoyed in drawing rooms and even in the finest gardens across England. 

5 Ways for You to Enjoy Tea Time

Tea time can be complex or as simple as you want it to be. But each kind of sit-down tea has specific characteristics that have changed surprisingly little throughout English history. You might say “high tea”, “afternoon tea”, and “royal tea” interchangeably but each one has unique and fun details.

Afternoon Tea and Low Tea

If you are a tea enthusiast, chances are you’ve had your fair share of delicacies and petit desserts during afternoon tea. The picture-perfect afternoon tea consists of crustless finger sandwiches, and an assortment of desserts, savories, and scones — served on a tiered stand — all presented alongside a hearty pot of tea. 

Afternoon tea is more of a reason for celebration than it is a daily ritual. You don’t have afternoon tea in its entirety every single day — not unless you’re the Queen of England. Afternoon tea was once called low tea and enjoyed at coffee tables. But today, most afternoon tea displays are set upon standard height dining tables. But just because you take your fancy afternoon tea on a high table doesn't mean that you can call it “High Tea”.

High Tea 

You might be surprised to find out that afternoon tea is nothing like high tea. A lot of people assume that high tea refers to a high-class society type of event. After all, afternoon tea is usually enjoyed during special occasions these days and that seems very high class. But the origin of high tea has nothing to do with high society — in fact, it is quite the opposite. 

High tea was not associated with the aristocrats of society, but rather the working class. While aristocrats enjoyed a large breakfast and dinner — with afternoon tea in between — the working class ate breakfast and lunch, and they had “tea” — or dinner — around 6 o’clock. There is still a large portion of Northern Englanders who call dinner or supper “tea”.

High tea is a traditional hearty dinner, accompanied by a pot of tea, and eaten on a high table — or a regular dining table. High tea doesn’t have petite cakes, small savories, and crustless finger sandwiches. High tea may have normally consisted of a roast, potatoes, and a satisfying bold tea to fill you up at the end of a hard working day. 

Cream Tea and Strawberry Tea

If you want all the enjoyment of a midday pot of tea without the heartiness of afternoon tea, cream tea might be your favorite new tradition. Cream tea is a simple light afternoon snack that includes a pot of tea and a scone with Devonshire cream and fruit preserves — usually strawberry. 

Cream tea is regularly enjoyed all over England, in the same way Americans enjoy an afternoon cup of coffee. At a cream tea, a freshly baked scone is sometimes cut in half and a dollop of Devonshire cream and fruit preserves is plopped onto each side of the scone. Cream tea is called “Strawberry Tea” when fresh strawberries are in season and served alongside your fresh scone. 

Light Tea

If afternoon tea is too heavy and cream tea is too light, then a light tea might be the perfect pairing for you. A light tea will also satisfy your sweet tooth!

Scones, Devonshire cream, preserves, and desserts are served with a delicious pot of tea. A light tea is heavy enough to stave off those pesky hunger pains, but not so large that it will interrupt your dinner plans. This tea-time snack is also enjoyed in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. 

Royal Tea or Champagne Tea

If you like the idea of toasting a little bubbly and sipping on tea, the royal tea — or champagne tea — might be your new favorite midday meal. Royal tea is exactly the same as afternoon tea — complete with scones, sandwiches, sweets, and tea — but it is accompanied by a glass of champagne. Royal tea and champagne tea are names that can be used interchangeably.

Teaware for All of Your Afternoon Tea Needs

Afternoon tea is never complete without a beautiful teapot, cups, and saucers. Teabloom is your home for exquisite hand-crafted teaware that’s not only gorgeous but can help with your health and well-being. 

Teabloom is on a mission to clean up the tea industry for the better, and they believe that this journey starts with the materials that you make your teaware from. When you make the switch from porcelain to borosilicate glass, you can steep tea that tastes pure and clean. This sustainable material doesn’t leach toxins into your tea, and it’s durable and stain-proof.

Here you can find double-walled teacups, teapots with infusers, tea kettles, and more for all of your afternoon tea party needs. Make your daily pot of tea a healthy and happy habit with Teabloom.

www.Teabloom.com