Carthage Historic Preservation, Inc.
Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 375 | Carthage, MO  64836
Phelps House:  1146  Grand Avenue, Carthage, MO
417.358.1776

​The Origins of Afternoon "Low" Tea

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We can thank Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, for inventing afternoon tea around 1840. As industrialization picked up and innovations like gas lighting became common, dinner in England started shifting later into the evening. While rural areas still ate in sync with the sun, the upper class began dining as late as 9pm, with lunch held much earlier in the day.

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The Duchess, who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, found the long gap between meals unbearable. She famously described a “sinking feeling” around 5pm. To cure her afternoon slump, she began requesting tea, along with bread, butter, and cake. That small indulgence soon became a daily ritual—and it didn’t take long for others to catch on.

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The upper class eagerly embraced this elegant pause in the day. Afternoon tea quickly evolved into a fashionable social event across Britain.

 

What Is Low Tea?
Also known as afternoon tea, "low tea" is a light meal served in the late afternoon, featuring a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and—of course—tea. The term comes from the setting: it was typically enjoyed in cozy armchairs around low tables, creating a more relaxed and refined atmosphere than formal dining.