High Tea and A Book Signing

By Neva Bodin

One of my earliest memories associated with drinking tea in my family was being told you have to hold your little finger out when you hold the teacup, which of course is small and dainty and fancy, not like our regular coffee mugs. We lived on a farm in North Dakota. Where did my family get that notion? I do have ancestors who came to America from England.

The only tea drinking I remember was in late evening when my dad and brother would attend a farm meeting, and my mother and I, home alone, would have green tea with buttered crackers. I still have that unique brown teapot with gold swirlies on it. It brings me warm memories. We didn’t have teacups.

But I have a small collection. All were gifts. I took them to the second-hand store when we downsized while moving last year; I came home with them still in the car! They are back on display.

There’s a tea shop in a town about 100 miles from me. I’ve had the pleasure of having tea there with my writer’s group and friends on a few occasions; it’s expensive but a “refined” experience! We had “high tea!”

According to Chinese legend, the history of tea began in 2737 B.C.E. when the Emperor Shen Nong, a skilled ruler and scientist, accidentally discovered tea. While boiling water in the garden, a leaf from an overhanging wild tea tree drifted into his pot.

 https://www.peets.com/blogs/peets/a-history-of-tea?

So, what is “high tea?”

I found differing definitions. English in origin, it differs from “afternoon tea.” Afternoon tea was something to tide people over between noon and evening meals, the latter becoming later after kerosene lamps were used in the evenings. The heartier meal was “high tea,” not meaning high society but more substantive fare according to one source. That was served with meat or egg dishes. Afternoon tea consisted of finger sandwiches, scones and desserts. Another source said just cakes and tea.

The name “high tea” comes from serving at a high table for more main items to eat, and “low tea” or afternoon tea, at a low table or coffee table according to https://www.teatimemagazine.com/high-tea-vs-afternoon-tea/.

The name “high tea” comes from being served at a table with high-backed chairs, according to https://www.thespruceeats.com/afternoon-vs-high-tea-difference-435327.

Our high tea was at a regular dining table, and we had three different specialty teas with three different courses: salad, soup, finger sandwiches, scones with three toppings offered, and desserts. It was elegant, delicious, and much fun. I bought some Caramel Chai tea home with me.

And I had my second most successful book signing!