Tempest in a teapot: Afternoon tea vs. high tea

The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton has inspired a trove of articles about Britain: tips for traveling to London; finding a bit of Britain closer to home; a look at some less-than-regal wedding souvenirs; even a commentary from a British expatriate.

Invariably, articles about British culture mention tea. Afternoon tea, that is. However, a couple of recent articles have referred to the snack with pastries and finger sandwiches as "high tea," which readers have quickly pointed out is another meal.

The confusion first popped up in a photo caption in the April 3 Travel section with an article about a special royal-wedding-themed event at the Fairmont Empress hotel in Victoria, Canada. The caption with a photo of a silver tea service said that "high tea" was a tradition at the Empress.

Reader Burton Karson of Corona del Mar wrote, "Your writer of captions and your copy editor should know that 'high tea' is a working man's supper that includes a hot dish, and that the elegant tea referred to here is 'afternoon tea.'"

It happened again Monday, in a headline on the front page of the Calendar section.

A commentary by Simon Reynolds, a British music critic and author living in South Pasadena, argued that Americans are more excited about the royal wedding than Brits because they’re enthralled with a fairy tale image of Britain: "A fantasy land of castles and cucumber sandwiches, trusty valets and well-spoken villains."

Another line of the article was pulled out into larger type: "More than any other institution, PBS is responsible for maintaining the illusion that Britain is a country where everybody takes afternoon tea."

But the headline read: "Kings, castles and high tea."

Andy Gilchrist of Manhattan Beach wrote that "it's a major faux pas to confuse 'afternoon tea' with 'high tea'! They are very different servings, but since 'high' sounds more uppity, the misunderstanding is common."

Calendar copy chief Steve Elders said the headline intended to set a mood for the piece; the subheadline read, "Americans love the illusion of a quaint, fairy tale Britain. Blame films and PBS." Unfortunately, however, "high tea" isn't synonymous with "afternoon tea."

As Gilchrist suggested, the name "high tea" does not refer to high class, but to how the meal is served. High tea is served at a high dinner table or counter, while afternoon or "low tea" is traditionally served on low tables in a sitting room.

After the fairy tale royal wedding, it's much more likely that Prince William and his bride, like guests at the Empress hotel, will enjoy afternoon tea.

-- Deirdre Edgar

Photo: Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress, published April 3 in Travel. Credit: Empress Hotel

 

Comments

[Dana Mmitchell]

Who cares. Did we not divide from England for a reason ? How about covering a valid story like. How we are being porked by our government as they tear up our constitutional rights and spit in our faces. This wedding is being covered more than all of our troops that lost there lives over seas put together. What is wrong with us ?

[Andy]

Part of the problem is that "afternoon tea" is often sold to American tourists as "high tea."

[Sabrina]

The phrase "high tea" refers to a later evening meal vs "Afternoon" or "cream teas" which are the fancier far usually served at 3 or 4 p.m.

[moethebartender]

On this morning's Price Is Right, they offered a prize package with a Royal Wedding theme. It included a tea set, and of course they couldn't resist using the term "high tea." (The grand prizes were a trip to London and a Buick Regal, even though Buicks aren't sold in the UK.)

[Mish Varney]

Well, there is a whole class thing between the two.
The working class would refer to 'tea' as the main meal they had at the end of working day. So their meals would be breakfast, dinner, tea.
The upper classes would have breakfast, luncheon, dinner. As their dinner would be later in the evening - rather than after a full working day around 6pm - they would have 'afternoon tea' - sandwiches, cakes, scones, nothing too substantial.
High tea is what the children would have as they would not be expected to be at the dinner table with parents in the evening - hence something substantial.
And a cream tea is nothing more than a pot of tea with scones, cream and jam!

I can see how it must be confusing - and don't even get me started on the ramifications and different uses of 'Supper'...
(And yes, I am English...)

[Lisa]

While I agree with the comment regarding class, I'm wondering if other "colonies" have added to the American confusion, since in Australia, we refer to what the Brits call "Afternoon tea" as "high tea", whereas "afternoon tea" is just any old thing you'd eat in the afternoon when you were peckish, differentiated only from a snack because it's usually with a hot drink (possibly of tea). The working man's hot supper is just called his "tea".