The History of High Tea

Step into a world where tea was more than a beverage—it was a carefully choreographed performance of class, culture, and social grace.

Join us in the historic elegance of Belfast’s original museum for The History of High Tea, an immersive event exploring the rich traditions of Victorian afternoon tea.

Discover the unspoken rules of etiquette, the significance of tableware and fashion, and the social power of the tea table in 19th-century. Why was pouring the tea such an important gesture? What did your teacup say about your status? How did these refined rituals reflect a society in flux?

In this atmospheric session, you’ll experience the sights, scents, and stories of an era when tea-drinking was both an art form and a stage for subtle social maneuvering. Guided by social historians and tea culture experts, this event includes live demonstrations, period table settings, and perhaps even a taste of the past.

Part of the Shared Roots programme delivered through the Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan by ArtsEkta, Cairde na Cille and Kabosh Theatre Company. PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

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