Tea Blog

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter; “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
— Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

by Stephanie Hanson

We all know about Alice’s mad tea party adventures, but when it comes to understanding different tea occasions, it’s easy to feel as lost as Alice down the rabbit hole.

Hotels and tearooms offer “afternoon tea” or “high tea,” and then there’s “low tea” to add to the confusion. To make matters even trickier, high tea is traditionally associated with the working class, while low tea refers to the elegant afternoon tea we often picture at places like the Ritz.

So let’s clear things up with a simple explanation of these tea traditions.

The Early Days of Tea in England

When tea first arrived in England, it was primarily a drink enjoyed by men in coffeehouses—alongside coffee and drinking chocolate.

That began to change in 1717, when Thomas

Twinings tea shop

opened the Golden Lyon, one of the first tea shops to welcome women.

From there, tea culture expanded rapidly. Women began hosting tea gatherings, and tea gardens and tearooms became popular destinations for people of all backgrounds.

The Birth of Afternoon (Low) Tea

The elegant tradition of afternoon tea can be traced to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford.

At the time, the upper class typically ate a light lunch, followed by a long wait until a late evening meal.

To address her mid-afternoon hunger—what she called a “sinking feeling”—Anna began requesting tea and light refreshments in her room.

She soon invited friends to join her, and the practice quickly became fashionable.

This form of tea became known as low tea, referring to the low tables on which it was served.

What Is High Tea?

High tea, sometimes called meat tea, was a very different affair.

It originated among the working class as an evening meal after a long day of labor.

Served at higher dining tables, it typically included hearty dishes along with tea.

Modern tea rooms sometimes use the term “high tea,” but these offerings often differ significantly from the original working-class meal.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of what it’s called, taking time for tea—whether simple or elaborate—is always a welcome pause in the day.

As the Mad Hatter reminds us: “It’s always tea-time.”

Check out Stephanie’s blog,

The Tea Scoop
, for more tea-inspired writing!