Exploring the Culture of High Tea
With Christmas fast approaching, Kenny and I managed to sneak off to the Roman Camp Hotel in Callander for a luxury afternoon tea.
High Tea is an old-fashioned British concept, but still very popular across Scotland.
This blog is for anyone wondering what High Tea is. We also discover if it merits being featured in our English language school food and drink activities. (Bearing in mind we often take you for an alternative tour of British culture).
An Introduction to High Tea
Be warned, this video contains a whole lot of cake-eating.
BuzzFeedVideo explores the topic of Afternoon Tea | Youtube
Learn English and British Culture | High Tea – the History
For those who don’t know, ‘High Tea’ is very British, and a relatively formal affair.
Traditionally, it was a fairly simple selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes served mid-afternoon in large ancestral houses.
It Was Posh
The household would reconvene mid-afternoon, warming themselves in front of a fire. Then revive themselves with a selection of hot teas and cold snacks that the maids had laid out for them (presumably sharing aspects of their leisurely day as they waited for the slightly more interesting cocktail hour).
After which they would change into something less comfortable to tackle all the formalities of an evening meal.
High Tea at the Roman Camp Hotel
High Tea for All
This extra meal, known as High Tea or Afternoon Tea, is something that a few grand hotels across Scotland now specialise in.
Such hotels open their doors for non-guests to sample the good life in the form of a luxury afternoon combining silver-service waiting staff, copious pots of tea and a parade of small and plentiful tempting treats.
It is less expensive and entails (on the part of the guests at least) less formality than a full evening meal would at such a top establishment.
Thus hotels can get money in during quiet hours – and the community can treat themselves.
What Does One Wear to High Tea?
Whatever you like! (and you don’t need to talk posh either).
In Scotland, High Tea isn’t necessarily a dress-up occasion – unless you want to.
The Roman Camp assured me on the phone that it was ok to come to their afternoon tea in walking boots – as we were planning a hike first (to build up a good appetite), but in the end, it was a rainy day and we chose to be lazy.
Many of Scotland’s oldest and nicest hotels are in outdoor sports locations and you’ll be surprised how many muddy guests or (sea-soaked guests) wander in to quite fancy locations.
Your English teacher Ruth enjoying High Tea
So How Was High Tea?
To be entirely honest, High Tea is a culture that neither Kenny nor I are used to.
While many people in our circumstances seem to get a kick out of this style of activity, neither of us was completely convinced by the elements of performance it entailed.
It felt strange being waited on so attentively and or sitting about in the afternoon!
High Tea should feel like a luxuriously indulgent treat, but in reality it felt rather wasteful (is it just me that doesn’t want to eat so many cakes in one meal?)
Kenny looking smart for High Tea
How was the food?
To begin with, we give the Roman Camp a bit of homework, as I eat gluten-free, and Kenny and I are both vegetarian.
We’d phoned ahead and they coped superbly with both requirements – I was particularly delighted by my fresh GF scone!
“I wanted to cry out, ‘free the chef!’
and
‘Why waste skill like that on sandwiches?”
Ruth, 2019
Strathearn Cheese
Our region has so much beautiful local produce, a High Tea not showcasing it is a wasted opportunity.
English Language School Food and Drink
Scotland produces such amazing cheeses and local produce, and while a traditional high tea, cramped by its own pretensions can absorb them as quality ingredients, it doesn’t really show them off unfettered.
I guess the high tea experience as a whole is more about sampling an unchanging, old-fashioned, decadent lifestyle for a day – and it is still loved exactly because it doesn’t change much.
High Tea is Not for Me
However, if (like me) you are all about learning something new about the food you eat, as you eat it then it is probably worth saving (much) harder and getting let loose in the evening restaurant – for that first mouthful told me that there’s a chef in there who’ll rock your world, and I’d pick unknown (and potentially sublime) over the weight of tradition any day.
What about for English Learners?
I was glad that the restaurant experience felt less stuffy than I was expecting but I don’t think High Tea is a part of the Scottish Culture that I feel any excitement about showing off.
A Charming Time of Year
The High Tea is a pleasant adventure, but the restaurant promises to be very special indeed.
The Roman Camp Hotel by night
Language School Food and Drink | Further Reading
Visit the Roman Camp Hotel website here.
Want to know more about our Language School food and drink philosophy? Read:
Language School Event | Burns Night | The Traditions We Broke – and Why?
