High Tea in the afternoon?

by Elizabeth
(North Carolina)

Question:
Every year my church invites widows in our surrounding area to a luncheon and afternoon of fellowship and encouragement. Last year we had 64 widows attend! This year I was asked to coordinate the event and would like to do something special...that's when I thought of a tea party. My question is, Can I serve them a full meal at noon and call it a high tea? Or should it be called something else? (We used to host this in the evening, but because most of them are elderly they preferred coming out during the day.)

Answer:
Hello Elizabeth, and thanks for your inquiry!

High tea by definition is a dinner served at a 'high table'(a dining table, not low side tables),with meats, soups, side dishes, and desserts... everything you would find in a regular dinner, usually served in the evening hours between 5 and 7pm, most commonly at 6pm.

With that having been said though, high tea has lost it's meaning in today's general society. It has become synonymous with afternoon tea, generally implying a fancier afternoon affair. Since your tea will be hosted right at lunch time, you could also call it a 'Luncheon Tea'.

Good luck with your tea, it is such a wonderful way to bring people together!

Sheila
Your Tea Party Guide