Return to the the Victorian Tea

As promised, I will share my plans for our first Victorian Tea in April of this year. I thought I would take you along with me as we explore the two kinds of Victorian Teas: High and Low, the foods usually served at these events, and the many varieties of teas that can be used.

A Victorian Low Tea
In Victorian times, Low Tea was a Tea that was typically served in a 'parlor' or living room type of setting using side tables, and a tea cart or tea or coffee table to serve from. It is called "Low" because of the tables that were used. They were lower than dining tables. It isn't unusual now, though, to serve a Low Victorian Tea at a dining table. Most Teas offered in tea rooms and shops are low Teas because of the nature of the food served, but are served at a high table

Food served at a Low Tea
Tea Sandwiches
Savory Scones, seasoned with herbs, cheese, etc.
Other Appetizers
Plain Scones served with Clotted Cream & fruit curds
Sweet Scones
Tea Breads, Banana, Zucchini, etc
Tea Cakes
Cookies
Sweets
and a nice hot pot of tea.

Low Tea protocol
Although more food options are served in a Low Tea, like tea sandwiches, scones, special desserts, candies/chocolates... it is still considered like a snack. Therefore, when helping yourself or being served, do not expect a lot of food. One or two of each item is normally appropriate. Seconds may be passed or a return to the buffet table may be indicated, but the same principle applies, one or two of each item

A Victorian High Tea
A true Victorian High Tea will be a full dinner served at a dining table.

Food served at a Victorian High Tea
Some or all of the following:
soups
meats
casseroles
a vegetable dish or two
scones
breads
cakes
other sweets

Victorian Tea prices per person
We have decided to offer three different teas: a Low Tea at $17.50 per person, a Low Tea at $21.95 per person, and a High Tea at $24.95 per person The difference in prices depends upon the amounts, the variety, and kinds of foods served. We will come up with a list of interesting and delicious sounding foods that we like to make, we've made before, or we have recipes for. We will categorize them into the groups mentioned above and price each group so that we may customize each Tea party.

On our next post, we will mention specific foods we plan to encorporate into our available food items list, along with some of our recipes, and discuss our research on varietals of tea and which ones we have selected for our Tea parties.
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Tea anyone?...............the creation of a Victorian Tea Party

Tea is so popular right now, even the men are drinking it. Prior to the 20th century, the drinking of tea was associated with "ladies" attending afternoon tea parties or meeting each other in tea rooms for a slice of cake and a little pleasant conversation. But it seems it is more popular now than ever and has become more or less a household staple, drunk throughout the day by some and in stead of coffee by others. So has the Victorian afternoon tea died out completely? Not according to some. I have a Victorian bed and breakfast. Although we have very modern amenities, we have retained Victorian decor and the feeling of the 1800s, when my house was built. Visitors love it. It makes them feel as though they have been taken back in time . So what has this got do with Victorian teas?

Well, it seems as though being taken back in time is not enough, some visitors want a hands on, more authentic experience. What was the food actually like? What did the dishes, and the cups and the tea service actually look like. What did it feel like to participate is such a ritualistic, elegant event? How fun would it be to have that experience? And so, after getting numerous calls asking if we do Victorian teas, we've decided to give the people what they're asking for. First thing we did was dig into the history a bit.

According to legend, tea drinking started accidentally in 2737 BC, when Chinese emperor Shen Nong was served water into which dried tea leaves had fallen. He thought it had an "interesting" flavor and eventually drinking tea spread though out his empire. It later became so well liked that it was cultivated and served during ritual tea ceremonies both in China and Japan. The art of the tea ceremony became so popular that tea houses sprang up all though out the orient.

By the late 1600s, tea drinking had made its way to Europe. And, by the 1700s, France and Holland led Europe in using tea, with England running a close third. And it was here, in England, that the European tea service format was created by Anna, the dutchess of Bedford. She would frequently invite her friends to an afternoon of conversation, serving small cakes, sandwiches, assorted sweets and, of course, tea.

Two types of tea services emerged, high tea and low tea. Low tea was served in the homes of the wealthy and consisted of gourmet tidbits, rather than a regular meal, with the emphasis on presentation and conversation. High tea was the main afternoon meal of the middle and lower classes and featured meats and vegetables, as well as sweets and tea.

Eventually tea was imported into and readily available in America around 1690. Most distribution companies were based in New York, Boston or Philadelphia. In the 1880s tea rooms began to spring up all over, in both Europe and America. Hotels like the Ritz, in Philadelphia and the Plaza, in New York became noted for their daily afternoon tea service.

So, we, at the Aleksander House, are planning on presenting Victorian Teas, in all their splender, to maybe 10-12 persons from 2-4 pm, by appointment. We will be doing this on a customized basis and are already emersed in the planning of one such event for the first week in April. In later posts, I'll let you know about the service, the food, and so on. Keep posted!

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