Afternoon Tea vs. High Tea — They Are NOT the Same Thing!

Let’s clear up one of the biggest tea myths once and for all 🍃

Despite what many people think, High Tea is not the fancy, elegant tea with tiers of pastries. In fact, historically, it was the opposite.

🕰️ High Tea originated in working-class households and large estates. It was eaten around 6pm by servants after a long day of work and was served at a high (dining) table — hence the name.
It was a hearty, filling meal: roasted meats, thick bread, eggs, savory dishes, and cake. Tea replaced ale once it became affordable for everyday people. Over time, “tea” simply became another word for “dinner” in many cultures.

👑 Afternoon Tea, on the other hand, is the elegant ritual we all love today. It was introduced by the Victorian upper class and served between 12pm and 4pm as a refined social occasion before late dinners (often after 8pm!).

A traditional Afternoon Tea is served in three courses, in this exact order:
1️⃣ Savory finger sandwiches (and sometimes small savory bites)
2️⃣ Freshly baked scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam
3️⃣ Beautiful sweets and pastries

🥂 When Afternoon Tea is served with champagne, it’s called Royal Afternoon Tea.

🫖 Cream Tea is the simplest form: just tea and scones with clotted cream and jam.

⚠️ Fun fact: Many hotels (especially in tourist areas) use the term “High Tea” to sound fancy — even though historically, that’s not correct. The confusion comes from the mistaken idea that “High Tea” means high society… but it never did!

✨ At Joseph’s Tea, we proudly serve a true, authentic Afternoon Tea experience — inspired by tradition, elevated by beauty, and designed to make every visit feel like a celebration.

Now you know the difference 😉
And next time someone says “High Tea,” you can gently educate them.

Which one did you think you were having before reading this? ☕💙