“A Woman is like a teabag, you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water”- Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

Throughout history, the role of women in society has ensured stability, progress, evolution and long-term development. This women’s day to show honour and admiration to our respected female figure, Royal Park Residence Hotel is inaugurating High Tea. Afternoon tea or high tea is a light meal composed of three courses- tea, sandwiches and savouries. A classic scone with clotted cream and jam or tart comes at the end with sweet pastries or muffins. Everything is bite-sized. The pastries and savouries are eaten with fingers and not cutleries. High tea time is mostly around 4 pm. The light meal is not meant to replace dinner instead to tide over until dinner.

The concept of high tea started in the 1840s and its roots can be traced in England when the Duchess of Bedford wanted a small bite between lunch and dinner. The popularity grew once she started inviting her friends over and it became a small communal gathering for the elite class. However, when the industrial revolution took place the working-class people needed a snack break in between lunch and dinner, as they were further away from their home. From there on, regardless of class division High Tea became a regular happening for all.

When tea first came from China to England between 1650s and 1660s, it was a luxury item accessible only to the upper class. Over the course of 18^th century, the cost dropped and the popularity increased among every class division. In 1791, the East India Company had to import some 15,000,000 pounds of the tea to fulfil people’s demand. Social historian John Burnett writes in Liquid Pleasures, “but they gave some palatability and variety to a monotonous diet, warmth to cold meals, and some stimulation to fatigued bodies.”

The relation among women, tea and their unlimited chitchats are never-ending. Keeping that in mind, Royal Park Residence is introducing our new branch of hospitality, High Tea, to honour womanhood. From the 18^th century tea table became precisely feminine place and space. In order to promote further and give recognition to the tradition our hotel is giving High Tea a better outlook and viewpoint.