Five o’clock Tea

“Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company”

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 an 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.

 So, the institution of tea connected with afternoon snack at four P.M. became widely known, this was postponed to five o’ clock in the 20th century.

Traditional five o’ clock tea is still held in the Buckingham Palace, as in countless English homes.

Have a tea! Have a cup of life!:)