Tea at 4pm. Is this a meal or a scone and cuppa?

In Scotland, tea usually comprises tea and cake (perhaps a wee sandwich too). High Tea takes place early evening and comprises a cooked meal (e.g. fish and chips) followed by copious amounts of tea and toast and cakes on a stand. When my children were small, my mother used to take them for high tea. They couldn’t believe this amazing feast was just for the three of them! And the waitress always asked if they wanted more…

My mother would have breakfast ( cooked) ,lunch ( light cooked meal and wine)tea ( sandwich ,cake, and sherry) and then dinner. ( pref three courses)
It was a tie when she came to stay as we had breakfast,sandwich at lunch and dinner at 8 pm ish.

Gosh some people overthink everything, go with the flow and accept what you are given gracefully. Food is only part of the social occasion for sure. You are there to socialise and see friends.

Ask- it means different things to different people. When my children were young it meant a proper meal possibly with or without adults - we’d have a snack with wine or a cuppa after they went to bed . These days it’s just a snack with wine or a cuppa as we have a proper meal much later

It’s tea, definitely cakes often sandwiches etc too
Could take wine or flowers for host

Tea and cake and leave well before six pm.

The old saying goes:
Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
3 meals a day and breakfast should be the biggest.
I think this is best for your general health.
I don't stick to it but I always eat breakfast as it stops me snacking later on.
I'm just off to buy some bubbly for my hosts!

Tea as a child was bread and butter, jam, homemade cake, occasionally jelly.
We didn’t eat after that, I still rarely do.
Nowadays I would take it to be tea and a slice of cake.
I tend to eat a proper meal at lunchtime and have something like fruit about 4-ish. I don’t eat breakfast, have lunch 12.30-ish, cup of tea mid-afternoon and probably a cold drink a little later.

Aveline

Gosh. A camper van parked nearby with back up grub? Great idea. I've noticed that our youngsters often have what they call a 'safety meal' before going out just in case the promised catering isn't substantial enough. An idea for you Grammaretto

What a good idea! I must admit that it takes so long for the meal to appear at some weddings that we've had too much to drink before food arrives. And you often have no idea what time they plan to eat.
It's the same with childrens' parties now, if the party starts at 2 will they get lunch or anything to eat before they're collected at 4? We tend to give the children a decent lunch beforehand as lots of people just give them a tea of snacky stuff rather than pizza or sandwiches. My daughter had a childens' party at 2 recently and laid out food on a buffet table from the start to cover all bases.
My GD goes to an after-school club until 5.45 and they do much the same there. My GS goes to nursery and they give them a meal at 4.00, something like tuna with crackers followed by fruit. I don't think that children now really think of tea as a meal with sandwiches and cake and I honestly can't remember the last time I had a proper afternoon tea.

Hetty58

Riverwalk, yes, too early. We never had 'high tea' - only afternoon tea - growing up. It caused endless problems if we took friends home after school for 'tea'.

To us, it was/still is a snack between lunch and dinner (dinner - or supper - served around 7 - 7.30 pm). To other families, though, it was the main evening meal!

Yes, it was always just a snack for my children after school, though sometimes when they went home to other children's homes where they were given a proper meal. We always ate together at 7-7.30 once everybody was home.
Now my husband starts to lurk around looking for snacks in the late afternoon, usually savoury: nuts, crisps, sometimes prawns or olives. He has a glass of wine but if I did that he'd probably never get his supper!

Live dangerously, G, and take pot luck. Enjoy!

JaneJudge

put a bottle of wine in you bag but expect tea and cake

This is the best answer

I'm going ceilidh dancing tonight to dance off all those extra calories.

We've had hot buttery crumpets today - they were to die for !
I certainly am the size of a bus these days !
Tonight , I'll have a big salad for supper .
I do love a salad .

Do let us know how this buffet tea turned out Grammaretto.

Tea in my grandmothers house was tea in china cups (usually Earl Grey) nicely cut sandwiches, scones and cakes. It was always served around 4 pm.

I so agree, but how do you manage this without becoming the size of a bus?

I think that afternoon tea was created by a Lady , who thought that the gap between lunch and supper /dinner was far too long .

Afternoon tea is a big tradition in my family .

Usually -
we have little sandwiches (
yes cucumber ! ) , cake , scones and if it's more of an occasion ( birthday , christening or a hen party ) savouries such as mini sausage rolls ,vol au vents and quiche .

Recently , we've served coffee as some people prefer it .
And lately , Cava Prosecco and Champagne has been requested too !

At the very least -shop bought cakes are okay .

If it's a grand occasion then it's home or especially baked cakes .

If we are having an early supper then afternoon tea becomes a cup of tea with a biscuit or two .

Whatever you have - it's sheer bliss and a welcome break in the day !

A buffet is plates of food either hot or cold or sandwiches cakes sausage rolls so I don’t think you’ll go hungry.😁

Crossed posts Baggs .
The buffet is on Saturday so I will report after.

The timing is different too
In England tea is at 4pm
Scotland high tea is a cooked meal at 5 or 6pm with a pot of tea and toast and scones.
So I daresay a buffet at 4 in Scotland could be any of the above.

Supper can be a further problem as I was brought up to expect supper to be a meal whereas here in the north it's a tiny snack.
My DB in Denmark has something called nacht mal or night meal, a snack before bed .
I blame the Viking invaders

Hope you enjoyed whatever was offered, Gram. You realise that you must report back and not leave us hanging?!

When I was in uni halls at Dundee high tea Scottish style was served at weekends late afternoon/early evening. I recall Scotch pies, beans and chips and similar followed by cake. I think there was masses of bread and butter always available.

I used to go hill-walking at weekends so I got a packed lunch from halls. It was usually two filled rolls (ham? I can't actually remember!), some buttered cream crackers, an absolute slab of cheese, and an apple and an orange. That'd last me an entire day now but back then nothing was left and I was ready for my 'tea', usually at my boyfriend's house where it would be soup, main course and pudding plus the ubiquitous tea to drink supplied by his lovely mum.

Tea for us is a pot of tea only😡 because we are too weighty, but normally would be a pot of tea and perhaps cake or biscuit or whatever.

As "buffet" is specifically mentioned, I would expect it to be sandwiches, savoury pastries, and cakes and scones, with a cup of tea. "High tea" in Scotland is something rather different to the English concept, and is often a hot meal such as fish and chips, followed by a bandstand full of cakes and scones, and tea of course. Enjoy!

Gosh. A camper van parked nearby with back up grub? Great idea. I've noticed that our youngsters often have what they call a 'safety meal' before going out just in case the promised catering isn't substantial enough. An idea for you Grammaretto