High society, maybe, but not "high tea"

Q: My friend and I got into an argument after reading the Victoria Clipper Vacations Web page. It advertises that one may "enjoy British high tea in Victoria." The ad states that "afternoon tea [is] also known as high tea."

Now, even though I personally prefer coffee, I seem to recall my mother telling me that there is a big difference between afternoon tea and high tea.

My friend, who apparently believes everything he reads, says, "It says right here that they are the same thing." I bet him the balance of my Tully's card that my mother was right, which she usually was. Who is right?

A: Your Tully's card is safe!

The writer of that promotion is wrong. Lest he feel too bad, however, he should know that he has plenty of company in his erroneous ways; widespread confusion on this matter appears to exist on this side of the world.

I found the following statement in "The Tea Muse," a monthly newsletter from Victoria: "Never mind the fact that it is an afternoon 'cream tea' versus the heartier 'meat tea' — high tea is what it is referred to by nearly every 'local' and tourist alike."

Well, let's clarify this matter, first by dealing with afternoon tea. This is a rather highbrow affair, and "high tea" is anything but, as you will see.

The Godmother of afternoon tea was the Duchess of Bedford of the late 1700s, who, lamenting the absence of any opportunity to eat between the hearty English breakfast and dinner at sundown, came up with the idea of an elaborate 4 p.m. snack.

Her friends, also beset with the afternoon munchies, were only too happy to help her start a new tradition. Word soon caught on among all the British.

Afternoon tea is a rather formal event, with the star beverage served out of the finest silver set the host can muster up, along with essentially three courses of food, generally high in calories and cholesterol. There are the usual cucumber sandwiches, scones and desserts. Attire is hardly casual.

The origins of high tea come from the lowest socioeconomic strata — specifically, poor miners.

These folks were grimy, cold and ravenously hungry after a hard day in the mines. They couldn't have cared less about silver tea services or cucumber sandwiches.

They wanted steak-and-kidney pies, pasties and whatever else they could down quickly. They certainly did not expect to have to freshen up before eating.

The miners also were too tired from digging in low, cramped spaces to want to sit down and bend forward to scarf down the eats. Therefore, the food was heaped up on the mantle at or close to eye level. Which is to say, the food and tea were placed up high. Hence the term "high tea."

High tea is a substantial meal. Don't get out the fancy silverware for this one. And don't bother to dress up.

Mary Mitchell is a Seattle-based corporate trainer and author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette." E-mail questions to Mary@themitchell.org. Sorry, no personal replies.