Who Invented the English Afternoon Tea?
The credit goes to the Duchess of Bedford—one of Queen Victoria’s Ladies in Waiting—who came up with the idea of a late afternoon meal of tea, thin sandwiches, and small cakes to overcome the “sinking feeling” she felt. The notion caught on, with Queen Victoria’s enthusiastic support. The British actually invented two kinds of afternoon teas: “Low tea” (simply called “afternoon tea”) and “High tea.” These labels can be a source of confusion to Americans. The “high” in high tea does not imply that fancy, high class, or expensive foods are served (or that high tea is enjoyed by well-to-do Britons). It actually refers to afternoon tea served on a dining room table (a high table) as opposed to afternoon tea served on a “tea table” (a low table). High tea is a fairly substantial meal—equivalent to supper—served in working class homes. It is generally served at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., and features a hot dish, hefty sandwiches, scones, heavy cakes, biscuits—and, of course, plenty of tea. By contra
