Despite its aristocratic name, the truth is that ‘High Tea’ began as another name for a workman’s supper, and was far from an elegant meal. Relegated to the working lower classes in the early days of tea drinking in the 1600s, afternoon or high tea was served on a high table at the end of the work day, around five o'clock.
For working families returning home exhausted, it was a substantial meal consisting of the most common dishes, such as kidney pie and steak, cheeses, pickles, and bread.
By legend, low tea began because the Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, suffered from “sinking feelings” around four o'clock in the afternoon each day. The story has it that she would have her servants sneak pots of tea and breadstuffs to her. Eventually, she began inviting friends to share not only her tea, but also small cakes and butter sandwiches, served on low tables. The practice became so popular with other hostesses that it went down in history as the social event that is still recognized today.
It's my absolute favourite Scottish tradition...
Typical Scottish treats
All home-made irresistible goodies
My kind of menu
Fudge doughnuts for a third of the price a Parisian patisserie charges
Red velvet cake with a Scottish twist
Never seen or heard of Lucaffé before.
Scottish strawberry jam to go with the piping-hot, flaky scones
Scrumptious double chocolate and vanilla iced biscuit
An adorable place for afternoon tea
My favourite bakery in St. Andrew's
Homemade fudge
Chocolate brownies to go
If this window were a cake it would be called Battenberg
Do you think this little bar serves tea?
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