High Tea

Mad Hatter's Tea Party - 1955 McCall magazine

This practice has been confused with Afternoon tea. High Tea also known as Meat Tea is dinner. It is an early evening meal that is served between 5 .00pm and 7.00pm. This is usually followed by a lighter meal usually termed as supper.

High Tea is usually a heavier meal. The foods typically served are meat pies, potato dishes, cold cuts of meat, pasta, cheese selection and ends with cakes, bread, butter and jam.

The term High Tea was first used in 1825. The word high is typically meant to refer to well-advanced or later time of the day e.g. high noon. High Tea is meant to reference itself from Afternoon Tea to distinguish itself with regards to time of the day.