High Tea in Melbourne
Afternoon tea, cakes scones & pastries
The gracious old lady that is the city of Melbourne is renowned world-wide for its old world charm, salubrious architecture and yes, it's high tea.
Traditional afternoon tea (also called high tea) is served with freshly baked scones, jam and cream, pastries and finger sandwiches.
Some high tea's include a glass of bubbly but are all served with freshly brewed tea and coffee brought to your table throughout the service.
Also see: Melbourne's ~ High Tea Reviewed | Great Places for High Tea (article)
Featured High Tea
High Tea Information
I do love a high tea, although Josephine prefers to call it, Afternoon Tea.
Some call it Sunday High Tea even when it's served on Monday.
Words = Afternoon tea, high tea, high coffee, daggy tea, crafty tea.
How about Mother's Day Tea?
Also see Tea House | Tea Room | Tea Garden | Mother's Day
High Tea Etiquette
Minding your manners with resident high tea expert Michelle Milton.
The host should wait for guests to begin before starting.
Making sure everyone at your table has what they need and is comfortable is just good manners. Guests won’t be shy to ask before you start, but after you’ve filled your teacup and plate, they may be reluctant.
Avoid picking items from the tower with your fingers
Use your fork if servers are not provided. Do not remove a plate from the tower – you want to be sure all the guest can reach the tiny delicacies on offer.
The napkin should be folded along the diagonal and placed on your lap
When finished, fold the napkin and place to the side of your plate to signal to the host that you are finished.
Never start eating until everyone has been served
It’s a communal experience, designed to share and enjoy together. Make sure to chew your food with your mouth closed. You’ll have plenty of time for chatting between bites.
Scones should be broken into manageable pieces with your hands
Do not cut with a knife or fork. Use serving spoons to add jam and cream to your working plate – this will help to prevent raspberry jam on your high-tea best!
For further information, visit the High Tea Society for history, etiquette and perfecting your cuppa.
Afternoon Tea Etiquette
The Windsor Hotel looks at the Etiquette. DOWNLOAD (pdf)
Melbourne's BEST Afternoon Tea
See Melbourne's Top 10 High Tea's.
AFTERNOON TEA HISTORY
The simple ‘cuppa’ has a far-from-simple history. Tea gained popularity with nobility in Britain after the tea trade took off in the 1670s with the advent of the British East India Company. A century later tea arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, and having ‘Tea’ in the new colony represented a time for social interaction and friendship rather than the more class-focussed rituals of the UK.
Afternoon Tea itself came about around the time that gas lighting was introduced in the 1800s in Britain. This meant people were able to stay up later into the night, and therefore sought to eat their evening meal later too. This shift left a large, foodless gap in the day.
Legend has it that in 1840, Anna, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford (one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting), began to request tea and a small meal of bread and butter, cakes and biscuits in the afternoon to tide her over until dinner. Her innovative (and somewhat indulgent) habit became a highly social occasion, with friends coming to share the hot beverages, delicate snacks and convivial conversation. By 1880, the trend took off and afternoon tea spread to the homes of the upper classes with teashops later springing up across the country.
The name ‘High Tea’ actually refers to a similar practice adopted by the working classes midway through the Industrial Revolution. It involved a heavier meal served with tea at 5.00 pm, upon returning home from work. As it was served at high tables it became known as “high tea”, whereas the more sophisticated afternoon tea was technically named ‘low tea’ in reference to the low drawing room tables that the upper classes would sit around to carry out the ritual.
Source: thehotelwindsor.com.au
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Sandown Tet Lunar New Year Festival 2019
Alice in Wonderland
Melbourne's Exclusive Magic Show
Melbourne History on the Line Australia Day 2019 Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers | NBL Bricks 4 Kidz Tan Track Flower Drum Restaurant Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road 2019 Interstate Freight by Rail Melbourne Hidden Bar and Cocktail Walking Tour Melbourne Helicopter Flights