England is famous for many things. The London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, double-decker busses and of course, tea. Tea is to England what apple pie is to the United States. Steeped in tradition, tea is not only a beverage of choice but also an important aspect of Britain's social history. One of these traditions, the English High Tea, remains an important element in the life of the British.

The practice of serving English high tea is often imitated, but never duplicated. In North American resorts, hotels and tearooms, English high tea is often served in early afternoon with an array of sweets and pastries. While certainly elegant, these are not true "high teas".

Exploring the proper method of serving English high tea begins with a little history lesson. Many years ago, the practice of taking high tea was introduced as the people of England enjoyed a morning breakfast and evening dinner as their two daily meals.

Breakfast meals usually consisted of bread, beef and ale. The evening meal, however, was a veritable smorgasbord. This meal was served as the sun began to set, and would come to be known as "high tea".

A woman named Anna, Duchess of Bedford, was credited with introducing the form of English high tea that we know today. Fond of inviting friends to dinner, the Duchess would experiment with the menu as she served high tea. Other ladies of society began to follow suit, and "English High Tea" eventually became a popular time for social gatherings.

Popularity of the English high tea gained momentum during Industrial Revolution, the second half of the Victorian Period. Working men and women returned home exhausted and prepared high tea for refreshment.

Quick and easy food choices were served for English high tea. Tables were set with bread and butter, meat, cheese, pickles and of course, a pot of tea. There were no of the rich desserts, fancy finger foods or tiny sandwiches that adorn today's mock "high tea" tables.

The name "high" tea may have stemmed from the fact that the evening dinner tea was served at a high dining table, rather than on lower tea tables.

If you want to impress your North American friends with a high tea party, some fancy sandwiches and sweets should do the trick. But if you're ever called to task and serve high tea to British guests, wait until the afternoon sun begins to fade, and serve your tea with some hearty fare. You'll score high points for your English high tea.

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Author Sadie Bedgegood enjoys writing articles for several popular Internet magazines, on healthy family and my family issues.