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Monday, August 8, 2011

WHAT IS ' AFTERNOON TEA TIME..' ...

Afternoon tea time
Tea can refer to any of several different meals 
or mealtimes, depending on a country's customsand its history of drinking tea.
As a custom the  tea time is usually scheduled from mid to late afternoon.
Afternoon tea traditionally known as low tea,
is a light meal snack typically eaten between 2pm and 5pm. The custom of drinking tea originated in England. Traditionally, loose tea
is brewed in a teapot and served in teacups 
with milk and sugar. High tea  is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5pm 
and 7pm.  It is now largely followed by a later lighter evening meal.
The actual time of tea time varies significantly depending upon your location in the world.
We often think of taking tea, especially with a light to heavy snack, as uniquely British.
The “high tea” was  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 
on a dining room table, and it would be loaded with substantial dinner dishes like meats, cheese, breads, perhaps the classic shepherd's pie or steak and kidney pie.
Occasionally, tea time refers to morning breaks or coffee breaks that would occur at about 10:00 AM.
Elevenses is a snack that is similar to afternoon tea, but eaten in the morning.
It consist of some cake or biscuits with a cup of coffee or tea.
A tea party is a formal, ritualized gathering for afternoon tea.
A coffee break is a routine social gathering for 
a snack and short downtime practiced by employees in business and industry, corresponding with the Commonwealth terms "elevenses", "morning tea", "tea break", or even just "tea". An afternoon coffee break, or afternoon tea, sometimes occurs as well.
A tea ceremony is a ritual  form of making tea.
It refers to either  Chinese tea ceremony, Japanese tea ceremony or the Korean tea ceremony.
A coffee ceremony is a ritual  form of making and drinking coffee. The coffee ceremony is one of the most recognizable parts of Arab, Eritrean and Ethiopian culture.
Traditionally, high tea was a working class meal served on a high table at the end of the workday, shortly after five PM.
"Afternoon" Tea has developed over time, it has become an elegant affair. You're wrong because "High" Tea was often enjoyed by the British working class as their evening supper, with heartier fare than the tea sandwiches and scones that are now associated with tea parties.
 Tea Etiquette.
Do not stir your tea, with your tea spoon, in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o'clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o'clock position two or three times. Never leave your tea spoon in your tea cup. When not in use, place your tea spoon on the right side of the tea saucer.
Nowadays, a formal afternoon tea is usually taken as a treat in a hotel, cafe or tea shop.
In India, having tea around 5:30 in the evening along with a couple of samosas and biscuits is considered to be "high tea".
Just think of all the fun it will be to gather your closest friends  to have a tea party ?
The joy of a ladies tea party, is that you can sit down with your guests and enjoy the party.
Any occasion is a great reason to have a tea party,

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