To ask what time is tea time?

[customwatkins]

I'm in the north (I'm not British though) a local supplier is making a delivery to me tomorrow - she has asked if 'tea-time' suits me for delivery.

What time is tea-time please?

Answers on a postcard! (I'll be home all day due to lockdown anyway!)

For a delivery at tea time, I'd say about 5 o'clock. But for a cup of tea and a slice of cake I'd say 4 o'clock! [cake ]

It’s basically shorthand for the next phase of the day after ‘late afternoon’ but bore actual ‘evening’. I’d say that to my parents (not in UK) if I meant 5-6.30 or so, despite the fact that I eat dinner at about 8 or 8.30.

I'd say between 4 and 7 is tea time

Hmmmm can mean different things.

In my house growing up tea time was about 3.30-4pm and was literally a pot of tea and a cake or bun to keep you going until dinner (around 7-7.30).

Many people from all regions refer to a child's last substantial meal of the day as "tea" (often a sandwich type meal as they've had a main meal as a school lunch), say 5-6pm.

If you're northern tea is last meal of the day for everyone, so any time from 6pm onwards. What I'd (as a southerner) call "dinner time". Ours is usually 9pm though!

4pm

My bet is on 5pm-ish, although I'm only a northerner by blood!

My delivery arrived at 5.15ish....thanks all! You were all Spot on with 'tea-time' suggestions :-)

3.30 - 4p.m..

5.33

I’m glad it came at tea time!

For those who said 3-4pm, that’s afternoon tea time, not tea time!

Exactly McEwan

4 o'clock. Tea with small sandwiches and cake or similar.

@McEwan

I’m glad it came at tea time!

For those who said 3-4pm, that’s afternoon tea time, not tea time!

Yes, and a meal most people now only eat at hotels as a special occasion is highly unlikely to be referenced by a business arranging an approximate delivery slot.

I’d have tea as young children’s mealtime or afternoon snack and cup of tea. 3-5pm.

@donquixotedelamancha

Caveat to say I'm not Northern

Never mind, nobody's perfect.

😂😂😂

Last meal of the day here today is most probably going to be 8.30pm - it fluctuates around tutoring and DH's evening meetings!

Tea time is 5-6. (I’m a Northerner)

Between 3:30 and 4:00ish at ours. After school we would usually offer tea. We see it as a meal between lunch and dinner. Then dinner a couple of hours later.

Yes, and a meal most people now only eat at hotels as a special occasion is highly unlikely to be referenced by a business arranging an approximate delivery slot.

I suspect the delivery driver would have left his triangled cucumber sandwiches, his little cakes and pot of tea in the van anyway.

Between 5 and 6pm here in Ireland. I ask DH every morning what he wants for his tea that night. and then tell him what his 2 options are Years ago my Dm loved to go to a certain hotel which served what was called high tea. Not sure if there is anywhere that serves that now

@mrsclatterbuck

I believe High Tea is so-called as it is served at a dining style table, thus denoting it’s your only table. Low Tea is served in a separate room, perhaps a second sitting room, or library, on what what we would call ‘coffee table’ height. It shows your multiple rooms.

I used to think it was whether one served champagne or other alcohol but apparently not. Other opinions most welcome.

BTW ‘tea’ is 5pm, dinner or supper much later, in my opinion. I still say ‘tea’ for both though as originally northern.

5pm in this house! 😃

I’d say 4 ish

I'm now reminded of the poster, late last year, who was all angsty about sticking to a regime of breakfast, elevenses, lunch, tea, dinner and supper and not getting fat.

5pm-7pm where I’m from. We eat tea at 5pm.

Dinner to me is when you go out for dinner.