What is the meaning of "high tea"?

What is the meaning of "high tea"?

In India, having tea around 5:30 in the evening along with a couple of samosas and biscuits is considered to be "high tea". High tea is generally much heavier than that. In England, for example, it is a heavy meal usually taken during the early evening hours. People invariably skipped their dinner after high tea. In the late 19th century "high tea" was an elaborate affair. What did it contain? Well, here's a British newspaper telling us what a high tea should include. "High tea should have cold roast beef at the head of the table, a cold Yorkshire pie at the bottom, a mighty ham in the middle. The side dishes will comprise soused mackerel, prickled salmon, sausages and potatoes, etc. Rivers of tea, coffee, and ale, with dry and buttered toast, scones, muffins and crumpets, jams and marmalade." It's not surprising that most people refused to have dinner after such a heavy meal!

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