Tea Time?

[PeteC]

........When a kid, in a working class household in SW London, dinner was midday and tea early evening, although it was the main meal - Pretty much as BaaBaa has already said.....

Tea early evening along with the main meal.....is that what 'high tea' is? Pete

[redzonerocker]

Tea early evening along with the main meal.....is that what 'high tea' is? Pete

yep!

[PeteC]

OK, that's where some confusion comes in I guess. High Tea I associate with the elite sitting in a posh venue on a Sunday afternoon eating crumpets with cream and jam etc. However, it appears its real meaning stems from what Caller describes and is associated with all classes. Pete

[caller]

Pete,

'Tea' was the evening meal! But eaten about 5-6pm, when I was home from school, sis was back and Dad got in from work.

We never had tea in the sense of 'high tea' at 4pm of whatever.

You know, the funny thing is, that as it was a part of my life at the time, I have no idea why the evening meal was known as tea?

I can't recall asking if my 'tea' was ready, I'm sure I used at ask when will dinner be ready!

A whole different subject, that may have been done here before, is the ritual of the meal and days of the week - cold meat and fry up on monday ending with fish on friday and after my father returned from overtime on Saturday morning, eels, mash and liqour (parsley sauce, home made).

[Jimbob]

Tea break, coffee break?
Some language differences!
Where I live and work has long connections to the coal mining industry and tea or breaks were until recently called smoke or smoko breaks, taboo now, and lunch break are still called 'Crib' breaks. I think crib comes from slang of Northern English or Welsh mining roots.

I drink tea through the day but somehow none lands on the keyboard.
Originally an official tea lady wheeled a trolley around the offices at morning tea time but that is long gone.

Friends working in Qatar report they have a coffee man who circulates their offices with tea and coffee. He gets upset when they elect to make their own brew.

[Big Boy]

Of course, as a loyal Government Servant, I don't get a tea or coffee break whilst at work. Such luxuries were withdrawn about 30 years ago.

[caller]

Of course, as a loyal Government Servant, I don't get a tea or coffee break whilst at work. Such luxuries were withdrawn about 30 years ago.

That sounds about right to me, but the plus side is I wear the office carpet down on my hourly or so meander up to where the always on-tap boiling water is!

[PeteC]

We can really get into this now, about daily meal types, and.......these rumours that an Asian hot water pot really doesn't make water hot enough for tea....and the cream/milk must go into the cup first, before the tea? Pete

[caller]

and the cream/milk must go into the cup first, before the tea? Pete

No idea now as I take my tea black.

But in the days when I did use milk, it went in first.

[redzonerocker]

milk must go into the cup first, before the tea? Pete

when it's from a teapot, yes, but if made with a teabag in the mug, definately after

[BaaBaa.]

Saturday morning, eels, mash and liqour (parsley sauce, home made).

*shudders*

[Arcadian]

milk must go into the cup first, before the tea? Pete

when it's from a teapot, yes, but if made with a teabag in the mug, definately after

Although that`s the way I do it the "correct" way is tea first milk/sugar after. Someone mentioned cream teas, the correct (Devon) way is to put cream onto the scone first followed by jam, although those Cornish people disagree, but then, thay are not English are they.

[pharvey]

Milky, ''Ingrish'' Tea in China is one of those 3 in 1 bl**dy powders......

As for meal-wise, definately 6ísh after school and work...... with ''supper'' (sarnie, tostie or ''proper job''... Welsh Rarebit on toast a bit later before going to bed...)!!

[caller]

Saturday morning, eels, mash and liqour (parsley sauce, home made).

*shudders*

Yes, that's what I thought as well. I never ate them. I used to be dragged into the pie and eel shops scattered around the North End Road in Fulham (all long gone) and they would be swimming around in buckets on the floor. When ordered, they would pull one out and quickly chop it up and the damn bits would still all be wriggling about (if I did eat then, I would have a pie)! I have never knowingly eaten eel as a consequence.

[Lung Per]

This "Tea Time" business reminds me of one of Noel Coward's songs;

What I want is a proper cup of coffee
Brewed in a proper copper coffee pot.
I may be off my dot
But I want my cup of coffee from a copper coffee pot.
Tin coffee pots and iron coffe pots
Are no use to me.
If I can't have a proper cup of coffee from a proper copper coffee pot,
I'll have a cup of tea!


Incidentally, in the old days it was always five o'clock tea which could be a rather heavy meal with the infamous cucumber sandwhiches, scones, biscuits, cheeses, et al. Consequently, diner was usually served (by the staff) as late as 8.30.pm.

Ah well, the good old days with mansions and butlers. Thimes are achanging.