English High Tea includes cold meats and cheese and can serve as the evening meal. The closest one can come to High Tea in San Francisco is at the Bread and Honey Tea Room in the very English King George Hotel. In most cases, the tea is made from loose tea and served in a China pot. Let your tea sit for five minutes to allow the tea leaves to unfold and release their flavor. Then, pour it through a strainer into the cup.
Tea is served with milk and slices of lemon.
Although there is a debate about which goes first, I've been advised that the milk is poured into the cup before the tea. If you order a full tea, you will first be served a selection of bite-sized tea sandwiches. Scones are baking powder biscuits made with cream and raisins or currants. Crumpets are like English muffins, only lighter and more buttery. A plate of pastries concludes the tea.