Definition of High Tea

A reader has asked: This isn’t directly related to baked goods, but lots of baked things are served for it and maybe you know the answer. Isn’t a fancy tea party called a high tea?

A: High tea refers to the working class evening meal in the British Isles, where substantial savory food is served along with simple cakes and other sweets. A fancy tea party where you serve sandwiches, scones, and sweets, as well as hot or iced tea, is simply called an afternoon tea.