Very high tea.

By Liv

I figured it was about time that Stella get a proper introduction to "high tea".

High tea (also known as meat tea^[6]) is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5pm and 6pm. It is now largely followed by a later lighter evening meal. High tea would usually consist of cold meats, eggs or fish, cakes and sandwiches.

In its origin, the term “high tea” was used as a way to distinguish it from “low tea” or afternoon tea. The words 'low' and 'high' refer to the tables from which either tea meal was eaten. Low tea was served in a sitting room where low tables (like a coffee table) were placed near sofas or chairs generally. The word high referred to a table, this one in a dining room table, and it would be loaded with substantial dinner dishes - meats, cheese, breads, perhaps the classic shepherd's pie or steak and kidney pie.

In our case, our proper high tea was served with a delicious array of freshly baked scones, cakes, cookies, mini sandwiches, fruit preserves and clotted cream. We were not disappointed! While Nick is holed up in the Business School's Library, studying away for his exams this week, Stella and I were out enjoying our leisurely high tea. Poor Nick. We will make sure to take him out for a proper high tea to congratulate him for all his hard work.

 Laura, my partner in crime.

 Stella's partner in crime, Tenzing.

 How proper.

 Egg salad, ham & Dijon mustard and smoked salmon sandwiches.

 I could do this every day.

 Stella is a big fan of tea.

 "I want Tenzing's toy!"

 This little girl is so much fun!

And delicious, too.