Halò My Fellow World Travelers!
While sitting at my desk, drinking some tea, I couldn't help but recount my memories from Edinburgh, Scotland & all the times I had High Tea!
This ‘review’ blog post comes to you today (as a little blast-from the past)!
For those of you who aren’t so familiar with my previous adventures, here’s a quick recap to familiarize you with my blogs origin story: from January to May of 2018 I studied abroad at The University of Hogwarts… whoops, I mean The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK!
During my time in Edinburgh I fell madly in love with the UK tradition of High Tea! For those of you who don’t know what ‘high tea’ is, have no fear, I’ve got the perfect little history lesson ready for ‘ye lassie’, (Scottish slang for my friend) … okay, are you ready….
History of High-Tea:
The idea of afternoon Tea was introduced during the 1840’s by the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna, who often found herself hungry in the afternoon. As a result, Anna started asking for pot of tea and a snack tray to be delivered to her drawing room around 4PM each day which was often accompanied by visits from her friends.
During the 1880’s upper-class and society women would often change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea. But nowadays, people can wear whatever they like – anything from t-shirts and jeans to a formal cocktail gown and heals (or collared shirt and tie for the men), is acceptable – it’s all about whatever you feel the most comfortable in!
However, just as how the terms ‘night’ and ‘day’ are opposites, the term ‘high tea’ has its own parallel concept called… you guessed it, ‘low tea’. The terms ‘low tea’ and ‘high tea’ refer to whether the tea has been taken at low tables or high dinner tables. And surprisingly, low tea is considered to be posher than high tea (although nowadays you will have a very hard time finding a place that calls it by such) … all the popular posh hotels and cafes will simply call it high tea.
To make matters even MORE complicated (who knew tea was so complex), but there is in fact a difference between the term’s afternoon tea and high tea. Afternoon Tea is served between 2pm and 5pm, whereas High Tea is served between 5pm and 7pm. Again, depending on the place you go to they might call the whole dining time one or the other (afternoon or high tea), as it appears throughout the centuries that society’s expectations regarding the formal naming of such events have become rather relaxed for the traditionalist.
While anyone today can partake in high tea from the comfort of their own house or favorite café, it didn’t become a formal affair until Queen Victoria adopted the habit of afternoon tea. This caused the small afternoon gathering to evolve into a “tea reception” where up to 200 guests could randomly visit between 4 and 7 pm at Buckingham Palace – an event that no longer hands out invitations to just anybody unless they are in or acquainted with the royal family.
Now that you’re familiar with the history of high tea, before I go into some of the best places to experience the rather ravishing event in Edinburgh, Scotland, here are a few fun facts about tea to get your wanderlust brain traveling!
Fun Facts:
According to UK Tea & Infusions Association, 165 million cups of tea are drunk in the UK every day of the year.
Also… 98% of people take their tea with milk, but only 30% take sugar.
A menu typically consists of Small “finger” sized sandwiches with the crusts removed (gasp)!
The world record for the most cups of tea made in one hour by a team of 12 is 1,848.
Green and Black Tea are made from the same plant (WHAT)!
YOU CAN, IN FACT, DRINK TOO MUCH OF IT (tea)!!! In 2014, a 56-year-old man encountered kidney trouble after drinking some 16 glasses of tea a day.
American's prefer their tea cold! About 85 percent of tea sales in the U.S. are from iced tea.
Best Places to Go:
Now that you know a good deal about the UK tradition of high tea, for those of you who I’ve inspired to pack your bags and head off to experience it… should you ever find yourself in Edinburgh, Scotland wondering where the best places to get high tea are, have no fear – I’ve already done a ton of personal research for you, so without further ado, here are the Best Places to get High Tea in Edinburgh, Scotland … enjoy!
Ranked from Favorite to Least Favorite:
The Dome (see pictures in this post included from my multiple experiences dining there)
Their beautiful dining room, called The Gregorian Tea Room, is and was perhaps one of the most elegant, Downton Abbey inspired high tea places I have ever seen (including the bathroom, everything was just absolutely stunning)
From the scones to the endless pots of tea, it is my personal belief that everyone who visits Scotland should dine at The Dome (they even have regular, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free menu options), so when I say there is something for everybody I truly mean it! Not to mention you’ll be able to take some amazing photographs there!
The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
They have amazing tea available in their hotel restaurant/lounge that I would recommend should you ever find yourself at the top of prince’s street - called One Square – not to mention staying at their hotel is also a fabulous treat!
The Colonnades at Signet Library (super fancy, even looks like a library inside)!
Harvey Nichols (at the top of a department store – now how fancy does that sound, dining inside a store!
With breath taking views of the city of Edinburgh, located up in the posh shopping district of George Street, I absolutely loved my time dining at Harvey Nicholas, the tea was good and the sandwiches were alright, I just wished that being in a department store there was some way to block the sound of the electors and other shoppers as I found it to be a bit noisy/echoey).
The Ivy on the Square
I even ate at this restaurant in London during one week long trip in April, the scones were good, but I just wished the sandwiches would have tasted as good as they looked.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse (if you want to dine like a royal, who know, maybe you’ll even see the queen)!
This place is nice and pretty casual compared to other places in Edinburgh, but it’s a bit pricey if you ask me for the quality – nevertheless, you are dining at the café, home to the queen when she’s in Scotland, so what else do you expect!
The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian Hotel (for the fancy – it’s a nice setting, located in their hotel lobby, yet again for the price and experience I think you can get better tea and scone selections elsewhere).
Clarinda’s Tea Room (old world, grandma’s house type of charm, good – for those who want more of a casual small setting).
There’s nothing wrong with the tea or pastries, it’s just my personal preference to want to feel like I’m dining as a lady, to prefer tea elsewhere. Also the shop is pretty small, which made me feel a bit claustrophobic after a while).
Eteaket (it’s more of a tea-boutique rather than a full experience high-tea dining room)
It’s also a store front which can make things awkward when you want to have the full experience of high tea, none the less, there are SO many teas to choose from if you’re like me you’ll get overwhelmed, but it’s good and I would recommend trying if you find yourself just wanting a cup of tea on a rainy day, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go back)
OTHER PLACES to get High Tea that I didn’t try… but plan on going back someday soon to experience…
Tigerlily
The Tower Restaurant (I ate here for dinner on my last night in Scotland which was AMAZING but never actually had high-tea here)
Mimi’s Bakehouse
Prestonfield
The Red Bus Bistro
Palm Court at The Balmoral Hotel
On that note, Slàinte (cheers in Scottish) my darling!
Upon returning to the states, during my last semester of college I became a Global Leader for the study abroad provider which I traveled with called API (Academic Programs International). With the new fancy title of ‘Global Leader’ my job was to throw informational study abroad events at my home university with the hopes of inspiring at least one person to follow their wanderlust dreams and study abroad just like me!
Hopefully if I’ve done my job correctly, and even through we’ve never met in person, I hope I’ve at least piqued your interest to learn more about the UK… perhaps by embarking on your own journey to either study abroad or try a real high tea event one day!
Until next time my fellow adventurer, see you at The Dome!
Cheers,
Lady Meghan Chayka
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