High Tea or Low Tea?

In most cultures, tea is associated with hot, non-alcoholic drink but in England it has an additional meaning. The culture of tea drinking is a significant part of British cultural heritage. First it was reserved only for the elites but later it became almost a national drink and acquired different meanings. 

AFTERNOON TEA or LOW TEA is an expression used in reference to a small meal snack typically eaten between 4pm and 6pm. The custom originated amongst the wealthy classes in the 1840s. The person considered to be responsible for  transforming afternoon tea (or low tea) into a late-afternoon meal was Anna Maria Russell, the Duchess of Bedford. By the end of 19th century, the low tea had changed into its present form and was observed by both the upper and middle classes.

Traditionally, British tea was brewed in a teapot and served with milk and sugar. The sugar and caffeine provided fortification for the working class of 19th and early 20th century, who had physically demanding occupation. For labourers, the tea was sometimes accompanied by sandwich or scones. Those who were more privileged, drank their tea while eating sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, or cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg cake, fruit cake or Victoria sponge).

For much of the 20th century, methods of preparing and serving afternoon tea were the subject of much snobbery. The upper classes would pour their cups first with tea and then milk, while those inferior to them the other way round. Nowadays the 'milk in first or tea in first' methods do not carry the same resemblance and everyone has his or her preferred way of preparing the drink.

The afternoon tea could be further grouped into: the old-fashioned tea, the at-home tea, the family tea and the high tea. Nowadays, a formal afternoon tea is often taken as a treat in a hotel or tea shop. In everyday life, many Britons take a much simpler refreshment consisting of tea (and occasionally biscuits) as one of many short tea breaks throughout the day.

HIGH TEA ( sometimes refereed to as meat tea) is the evening meal or dinner of the working class, typically eaten between 5pm and 7pm. It usually consists of a hot dish, such as fish and chips, followed by pudding. Traditionally high tea was eaten by middle to upper class children, whose parents would have a more formal dinner later. It could be also eaten by labourers, miners who were coming home from work. The term was first used around 1825 and high was used in the sense of well-advanced meal. It was also a way of distinguishing it from afternoon tea. 

Although it is often stated that the words low and high refer to the height of the tables from which meals were eaten, the term for the later meal actually relates to the usage of high as in the phrase it's high time. Afternoon tea was served in the garden whenever it was possible; otherwise it was a living room, where coffe tables were placed near sofas. Hence the fallacy about it being low tea.

The English Phlegm 

No explanation is needed here as the above picture perfectly explain what the English phlegm is. Does it reflect the English spirit or is it just another stereotype? People from abroad often think of Brits as of the nation too queasy for politeness and political correctness. The reason may be the fact that Brits tend to be neutral and polite in any situation. However, such behaviour is often perceived by strangers as lack of guts and temperament. One of the most evident examples of British passiveness is presented in the following video from London Riots in 2011. The city is demolished and the police does not even react. Such situation would be unimaginable in my country.

 

Morover, Brits are rather restrained nation that does not like to show feelings. If you ask an Englishman "How are you? ", in 99% of cases you will hear "I'm fine, thanks. How are you?" Lots of them do not even bother to answer and immediately reply with the same question. Why is that? Simply because they do not actually expect us to give true answer to the question. It is rather a kind of rhetorical question asked out of politeness or instead of greetings. I must admit that before I got used to English people, such ready-made responses were quite annoying. The frequency of those questions was also tiring at times. I saw no point in playing this dishonest questionnaire about my frame of mind. Why? Firstly, because I was not used to it. Secondly, because I did not understand the purpose of asking insincere questions. Now it is so obvious for me that I do not object this habit any more.