08/12/2026
TEA 101: High Tea isn’t what you think it is.
Here in America, we often use the term “High Tea” to describe an elegant afternoon affair—fine china, tiered trays, tiny sandwiches, scones and beautiful pastries.
But here’s a little tea secret…
That’s actually Afternoon Tea.
Traditionally, Afternoon Tea was the more refined social occasion, enjoyed in the late afternoon with tea, finger sandwiches, scones and sweets.
High Tea, on the other hand, was historically a much heartier evening meal—often associated with working households. It was served after the workday and might include meat, bread, cheese, vegetables and other substantial fare along with tea.
So why high tea?
Not because it was fancier. The name is commonly associated with eating the meal at a high dining table, rather than the lower tables used for the more leisurely afternoon tea.
So the next time someone invites you to an elegant “High Tea,” you can smile and know:
✨ They probably mean Afternoon Tea.
At Pearl Social Salon de Thé™, we want to do more than serve beautiful tea. We want to share the traditions, rituals and little bits of history that make tea culture so fascinating.
Consider this your first lesson in Tea 101.
More tea secrets to come… Pearl Social Salon de Thé
