Tea (meal) facts for kids
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Tea is a word that can mean different meals, not just the drink. People in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some other countries use "tea" to talk about a light meal. This meal is usually eaten in the late afternoon or early evening.
Long ago, people ate their main meal, called dinner, earlier in the day. As dinner time moved later, a new meal called "tea" became popular. This meal helped people stay full until their late dinner. The earliest "tea" meals were sometimes eaten even after supper, before bed.
A typical light tea often includes the drink tea itself. It also has tasty foods like cakes, biscuits, or pastries. Scones, bread with jam, and sandwiches are also common. Fancy hotels in London often serve these foods for a "traditional afternoon tea."
Contents
Afternoon Tea: A Special Snack
Afternoon tea is a light meal enjoyed between 3:30 pm and 5 pm. It started in England in the 1840s among rich families. This happened because their main dinner meal was being eaten later and later.
Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, is often given credit for starting afternoon tea. She found herself hungry in the late afternoon. So, she asked for tea, bread, and cakes to be brought to her room. Soon, she invited friends to join her. By the end of the 1800s, afternoon tea was popular with both rich and middle-class people.
For wealthy people, afternoon tea included thin slices of bread and butter. There were also delicate sandwiches, like cucumber sandwiches or egg and cress sandwiches. Cakes and pastries, such as Battenberg cake or Victoria sponge, were also served. Scones with clotted cream and jam are also a favorite. The sandwiches are usually cut into small shapes like triangles.
Today, a formal afternoon tea is often a special treat. People might have it at a nice hotel. The food is often served on a stand with different levels. Sometimes, a glass of Champagne or a similar drink is added for adults.
Less formal places to have tea are called teahouses or tearooms. These were once very common in the UK. They were important places, especially for women in Victorian times.
A tea party is a social event where people gather to enjoy this meal together.
Cream Tea: A West Country Treat
This snack is very popular in the West Country of England. This area includes Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset. A cream tea usually has scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam. Of course, tea is served to drink with it. In Australia, this is often called Devonshire Tea.
High Tea: An Evening Meal
"High tea" is an evening meal. It is eaten between 5 pm and 7 pm. This meal was sometimes called a "meat-tea" in the past. It is enjoyed by all kinds of people, especially after sports games like cricket.
In many parts of the United Kingdom, people traditionally call their midday meal "dinner." They call their evening meal "tea." This is different from some parts of Southern England, where the midday meal is "lunch" and the evening meal is "dinner."
High tea often includes a hot dish. After that, there might be cakes, bread, butter, and jam. Sometimes, cold meats like ham salad are served first. The name "high tea" comes from the fact that it is eaten at a high dining table. In contrast, "low tea" was a lighter snack served on a low table, like a coffee table.
Tea Break: A Short Rest
A tea break is not a full meal. It's a short rest from work, usually for 10–15 minutes. People use this time to relax and have a drink. It might be tea or coffee, and often includes biscuits. This break can happen in the morning or afternoon.
The British and Irish custom of dipping biscuits in tea is very common. This habit has spread to many other parts of the world.
Tea as the Main Evening Meal
In some parts of the UK, especially in Northern England and South Wales, "tea" is the name for the main evening meal. This is also common in Australia. This meal is like what others might call "dinner" or "supper." For young children, high tea is often their last meal of the day before they go to bed early.
Tea in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand
In Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, "afternoon tea" means a small, informal gathering. It's usually at someone's home. People have tea and light foods like biscuits, scones, or sandwiches. Any light snack in the mid-afternoon can also be called "afternoon tea."
If this snack is eaten in the mid-morning, it's called "morning tea" in Australia and New Zealand. A "tea break" is a work break for a cup of tea or another drink. In Australia and New Zealand, a morning work or school break is also known as "morning tea."
In these countries, the evening meal is still often called "tea." The midday meal is usually called "lunch." In rural areas, "dinner" is sometimes still used for the midday meal. "Supper" can mean a late meal at night or food served at a social event.
Images for kids
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Thé avec des artistes ("Tea with the artists"), Jules Grün, 1929
See also
In Spanish: Hora del té para niños
