Tea Meals

Denise Klein and Mike Gustin hosted a monthly tea from 4:00-5:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month during their tenure as Wiess College masters, 2006-2011. Denise collected tea pots and samovars, and donated a wide assortment of tea cups and saucers to the college.  She arranged about 10 different types of teas for each event and served a variety of light sandwiches and desserts with her tea. The Rice University serveries open at 5:30 pm for the evening meal, and the Wiess tea was similar to a middle-of-the-afternoon tea. For off-campus students, or students with labs, practice or rehearsals beginning at 5:30 pm, the tea served as their evening meal.

Low tea, high tea, and elevenses

Afternoon tea or low tea is a social occasion with light snacks taken at low tables like coffee tables.  The food is meant to tide you over until the heartier evening meal and is primarily finger-foods: desserts and snacks that you can pick up and eat with your fingers.

High tea, with it’s fork-food like hearty meat (or fish) and vegetable dishes, is served at regular dining tables.  A dining table is “high” when compared to the lower coffee tables of afternoon tea.

If you’ve read much British fiction, you may also have heard the term “elevenses,” which refers to a light snack-style tea served in the morning, similar to an American coffee break.

You can serve any kind of food for your tea, but try to keep the menu dry and easily managed with only a fork or with a single hand (no spaghetti, curry, enchiladas, hamburgers, etc).  The following “tea” recipes can be used for any style tea, at any time of day.

Enjoy!