Tea drinking in England can date back to centuries ago. As an English folk song goes,"When the clock strikes four, everything stops for tea." Here are some interesting facts about afternoon tea and an introduction to classic afternoon tea.
History of Afternoon Tea
Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess(公爵夫人) of Bedford, introduced the idea of afternoon tea one summer in the early 1840s. The duchess became hungry around four o'clock. She began bringing a tray(托盘) of tea, bread, butter and cakes to her room during the late afternoon. Then it became popular all over the country.
High Tea or Low Tea?
Afternoon tea is also called "low tea" because it is usually served in the mid-afternoon and was traditionally served on low tables near sofas.
"High tea" means dinner. During the Victorian time, working families returned home after work to have dinner served at a high dining table.
Three layers of Afternoon Tea
There are three layers of afternoon tea: small finger-sized sandwiches, traditional English biscuits, and at the top cakes and fruit. People usually taste from the bottom layer to the top layer, from sandwiches to cakes, and from salty(咸的) to sweet.
