The custom of “taking” tea was championed by the English in the early seventeenth century. In those days tea was a precious commodity only afforded by the aristocracy. It was during the height of the British Empire that Clipper ships crossed the oceans in pursuit of the luxurious elixir. In the eighteenth century tea was still not afforded by the masses due to its exorbitant cost and the house keeper of the gentry would carry a key for the Tea Coffer around her neck at all times guarding the precious contents. By the nineteenth century, many a British subject enjoyed this now popular beverage, as tea was becoming part of everyday life in England. It was around this time the Court of Queen Victoria, headed by the Duchess of Bedford who popularized the tradition of taking tea in the afternoon, as a snack between lunch and dinner.

It was a time when the ladies could gossip and pass on court information. “At Home” invitations were sent out each week to different women ensuring the gossip got around. It was customary to offer small sandwiches with a selection of filling and a slice of cake, and it was considered bad etiquette to stay longer than half and hour, just enough time to pass along any news, rumors or humorous stories one had to share.

High Tea is often a misnomer. Most people mistakenly refer to Afternoon Tea as High Tea because it sounds as if it is more sophisticated and grand, when in actuality it denotes the height of the table it is presented on.

During the Victorian era known as the industrial revolution working class families would return home after working all day and they would find the table set with an array of meat, bread butter, potatoes, pickles, cheese and of course tea.