afternoon tea: is it still done?

[Downunder Kilt]

At all work places we have a break around 10.00 for morning tea and another around 2.30 for afternoon tea. Depending what industry you are in it maybe be called morning or afternoon smoko. Our midday meal is lunch and evening meal is dinner to a majority of people but some people still refer to it as teatime. As for Devonshire or High teas, a lot of areas that thrive on tourism serve the scones and flavoured tea at any time of the day. In Melbourne CBD there are several establishments that do the complete High tea thing which is a very elaborate and formal presentation of various teas, pastries, sandwiches etc.

[sydnie7]

Here's an example of the U.S. model, high-priced dedicated tea room in a basically tourist area (although it is a wonderful street to wander, admire gardens and old houses, etc.). We've been to tea there once to celebrate a birthday, certainly a splash but quite enjoyable (especially when my sister picked up the tab LOL).

[dfmacliam]

I guess proper tea, was always a class thing... for us, tea time was when mom popped the kettle on. I still enjoy tea with mom, on my odd visits.. but no crumpets...lol

[KenB]

If my memory permits, I believe that the Empress Hotel in Canada's beautiful city, Victoria, still serves a "high tea". It is pretty formal.
I hope my memory serves well, as what the memory misses imagination takes up.

[Bigkahuna]

The "Palm Court" in the Plaza Hotel in NYC has a very nice High Tea.

[vesuvianite]

Another place where teatime is very alive and well is Smith College, which serves up a formal tea every Friday afternoon for its students. Quite wonderful teas - baked brie, chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, tea with sugar and cream and lemon slices...

[Kilted Rogue]

Until my son was born, my wife and i would come home daily and have a cup or 2 of tea with a few biscuits or a small slice of cake if there was any on hand ( i am a baker) and sit and relax. Now a days its a luxury that we are just beginning to get back to. My son being 2 yr now, He says " i want some tea" and he gets his small mug and a bit of Decaf Tea and honey!

[BoldHighlander]

If my memory permits, I believe that the Empress Hotel in Canada's beautiful city, Victoria, still serves a "high tea". It is pretty formal.
I hope my memory serves well, as what the memory misses imagination takes up.

Your memory is serving you well

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress

Also I found this listing for afternoon tea in Victoria:
Victoria afternoon tea

[ThistleDown]

Does the custom of afternoon tea (with a few light refreshments) still happen in the UK, or is it a relic of the past? There are some traditions which people continue, and some get left behind, and I'm wondering which category tea-time falls into. Thanks for your replies.

Someone else answered this as a "class" question. Just one of many significant differences between England and Scotland is that the latter is, essentially, an egalitarian society. Some have more leisure time and in the main these are older folk or (I cringe to say) women. Afternoon Tea in the form it has been practiced in Scotland is today pretty much restricted to those two large groups, with teatime for the former moving a bit earlier in the day or merging with Tea a bit later. Tea to us is an early-evening meal and quite different to a 4:00 sugar-fix called Afternoon Tea.

Twenty-five years ago my mother and grandmother still stopped everything at 4 in the afternoon; they met for tea (assam, except on Sunday), something sweet and light conversation. If there were just the two of them, the housekeeper, Nellie, was always with them. Their half-hour together began thus. Mother: "Oh, Nellie the tart (or cake) looks lovely." Nellie: "Thank you Mrs D." Grandmother: "Would you like me to pour, dear?" Mother: "Yes, please, Mother, and would you serve the tart, Nellie?" Nellie: "Yes, Mrs D. Would you care for your usual portion?" Mother: "Yes, thank you, Nellie. And you, Mother?" Grandmother: "Yes, dear, but Nellie not quite as much cream as usual, please. And would you join us?" Nellie: "Thank you mum, but I'll just have a spot of tea, please."

That bit of routine formality over and done with, the three of them would discuss the events of the day (usually with lots of laughter), plan a bit for tomorrow, and finalise arrange for dinner (almost always served at 8:00).

On Saturday and Sunday, of course, all was turned upside down because dinner was served at 1:00, tea was much more formal at 4 (there were often guests) and supper was as late as 9 or beyond.

In 2010: when I am in BC we serve Afternoon Tea at 4 every day we have house guests. If we don't we give it a pass as a get-together thing and just pour from the pot (always steeped by 4) and go back to tasks in hand. When I am in Scotland and am invited to Afternoon Tea I attend, of course, and I am then obliged to reciprocate -- and do. On days when I must do neither, I have a cup of tea about 3 (with a biscuit, perhaps) and look forward to half six when the day has come to an end and the Glenmorangie and a splash are on the sideboard. Dinner at 8.

On Sunday? Upside down rules.

Rex

[EagleJCS]

I'm not an expert on this subject by any means, but it seems to me that - 'round here, leastways - the three meals of the day can be referred to as either: breakfast, lunch and dinner or breakfast, dinner and supper. Which you use depends partly upon whether your folk were raised in the city (the former grouping) or the country (the latter grouping).

No matter which way you say it, the meal starting times are roughly 6 - 8 AM, 11 AM - 1 PM, and 4:30 PM -7 PM. This also may depend on whether you're in an urban environment or rural environment.

As far as the original poster's question: teatime is considered a British phenomenon and is generally considered "upper class". I.e. - "We don't drink no dang tea 'less it's iced".