history of high and low Tea-餐茶和下午茶的历史

What is English tea time really like? In reality there are two types: high tea and low tea.

Ever since the late 1700’s, tea time has been an integral part of English life. When people from other countries imagine life in England, they almost always picture the English sitting down at a table set with delicate china, socializing over hot cups of tea and little cakes.

Most little girls in the US grow up having tea parties with stuffed animals, using tiny tea sets and talking in “British” accents. Formal “English tea time” birthday parties are becoming increasing popular, as well.

High Tea Versus Low Tea

In reality, there are two types of tea time in England:

• Low tea or afternoon tea
• High tea or “meat tea”

Low or Afternoon Tea

The menu for a proper afternoon tea can consist of a variety of light snacks, such as those mentioned above. The food served can be sweet, savory, or a combination of both.

One of the most popular types of afternoon tea is the Devonshire Cream Tea. The Devonshire cream tea menu is simple but unforgettable: tea, scones, strawberry jam, and rich, luscious clotted cream.

Clotted cream is cream that has been thickened by simmering in a water bath and then refrigerated for several hours. It is almost as thick as butter and sinfully rich. The proper way to consume these delicacies is to spread the cream across the scone instead of butter, and then to spread the strawberry jam on top of the cream.

High or Meat Tea

While afternoon teas can be extremely high in calories, high teas are even more substantial and nourishing.

Working class people did not have time for a leisurely round of snacks and gossip between lunch and dinner. They were working. Tea time for them meant an early supper, served as soon as possible after work. Dainty snacks simply were not enough. So, the custom evolved of serving a substantial meal in the early evening. High teas can include cold cuts, shepherd’s pie, baked beans on toast, steak and kidney pie, cakes, custards, sweets and pickles.

food & cultures-食物与文化

. Carlo Mollino's Tavolo Reale for Zanotta, 1946

. Typical japanese low table

In Japan, some restaurants and private homes have low tables and cushions on the floor, rather than Western style chairs and tables. These are usually found on tatami floors: traditional tatami  (畳) rooms have an alcove (tokonoma) in which a hanging scroll (kakejiku) and a flower arrangement (ikebana) or piece of pottery is displayed. The room entrances are sliding paper doors (fusuma) and sliding paper screens (shoji) which can be removed completely. 

Most Westerners are not used to sitting on the floor, however, in Japan sitting upright on the floor is common in many situations. For example, meals are traditionally held on a tatami floor around a low table. Sitting on the floor is also customary during the tea ceremony and other traditional events.

The formal way of sitting for both genders is kneeling (seiza) as shown on the picture below. People who are not used to sit in seiza style may become uncomfortable after a few minutes. Foreigners are not usually expected to be able to sit in seiza style for a long time, and an increasing number of Japanese people themselves are not able to do so either.

In casual situations, men usually sit cross-legged, while women with both legs to one side. The former sitting style is considered exclusively male, while the latter is considered exclusively female.

The most important guest sits on the honored seat (kamiza) which is located farthest from the entrance. If there is a tokonoma in the room, the guest should be seated in front of it. The host or least important person is supposed to sit next to the entrance (shimoza). 

height depends on the occasion!-高度取决于场合！

A very high wedding cake and the italian Sbrisolona, a typical cake of Mantova.

Cake is a form of food, typically a sweet, baked dessert. Cakes normally contain a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil, with some varieties also requiring liquid (typically milk or water) and leavening agents (such as yeast or baking powder). 

From the wedding cake, generally composed by different levels, to a typical cake of the north of Italy, the Sbrisolona: a very low cake made with almonds. The height of the cake generally is related to the occurrence.