Socializing Tea

- Sue Worthman

Although tea drinking originated in Asia, the fashion of ‘teas’ as an occasion for social gathering is a decidedly European convention. During the 18th century, dinner—i.e, the main meal of the day—gradually moved from being served between 11am and 2pm (and lasting 2-3 hours), to a later and later time, such that by the early 1800s, the normal time was somewhere between 7:00 and 8:30 pm. As a result, an extra meal—called luncheon—had been created to fill the midday gap. This new meal was very light and relatively short, which made for a long afternoon with no refreshment and people feeling rather hungry. The story says that it was Anna Maria, the 7th Duchess of Bedford of Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, who had the idea of asking her maid to bring all the tea making equipment to her private boudoir at 5 o’clock so that the she could enjoy a cup of tea with a slice or two of bread and butter. Anna Maria found this afternoon tea such perfect refreshment that she soon started inviting her friends to join her in her room, thus establishing a new social event. Wealthy English ladies came to afternoon tea gatherings not so much to eat as to meet their friends, catch up on gossip, chat about the latest fashions and scandals, be seen in the right places among the right people and, in passing, to drink tea and nibble daintily on small sandwiches and sweets.

Once the trend had been set, fashionable society started to hold tea parties to suit almost any occasion. There were drawing room teas for groups of 10 or 20 visitors, small intimate teas for 3 or 4 friends, tea in the garden, ‘at home’ teas, tea receptions for up to 200 people, tennis teas, croquet teas, and picnic teas. Even churches began holding ‘teas’ and other socials. The growing middle classes imitated the rich and found that tea was a very economical way of entertaining several friends without having to spend too much money. Pots of tea and a few small teatime treats such as crustless sandwiches, hot buttered toast and scones, little pastries, and a cake or two were all that were required and expected.

Afternoon Tea migrated to the ‘colonies’, including the US, and was in full Western culture swing by the Victorian era. “Teas” are still a wonderful way to entertain neighbors, friends, and even business acquaintances. A 300-year tradition that’s changed little in form or function.

—source: “The Tea Companion” by Jane Pettigrew