DIVERSITEA DIVAS

THE HISTORY OF THE TEA

Afternoon tea was a practice that was started in the early 1840’s during the Victorian era when Anna Russell, 7th Duchess of Bedford wanted a “spot of tea” and some baked goods between lunch and late evening dinner, because it was not uncommon for many upper class families to dine as late as 9 o’clock in the evening.

She began to have tea and bread at mid afternoon in her living quarters in a less formal arrangement then other tea parties. The tea was served in her sitting room on low tables and it became known by the name “low tea”. It was an informal, pleasant social event in which friends could catch up on the news of the day.

Anna Russell introduced the idea to her friend Queen Victoria, and suddenly “low tea” became an event to be practiced by the upper classes of England. The teas were no longer served on low tables in the less formal sitting room, but reserved for the best guest parlor in the house or in the formal gardens. Only the best silver and china tea sets and best linens were used specifically for the event of taking afternoon tea. Ironically, “high tea” was really what those in lower classes enjoyed.

When day laborers and farmers headed to the house to eat they had a full meal of meats, cheese, butter, and eggs. This of course was washed down with tea. The tea was served on the main dining table hence the 'high' table and therefore, became known as “high tea”.

Today in the U.S., tea rooms in elegant hotels cater to social climbing upper class women. Taking afternoon tea is typically a social and networking event/opportunity much like the golf course serves for men, and it remains on the list of “must do’s” for both young and old social climbers.