The model for how tea is celebrated today is the centuries old tradition of afternoon tea established by the British. The British usually add milk to their tea, or add tea to some milk. The ritual of 'milk first' is said to create a smooth blend of milk and tea, while that of 'milk last' is said to pleasant the tea slightly for easier sipping and prevent damaging the leaves with extremely hot water. Some think that whether or not the milk is added first or last can indicate a person's social class. The working classes added their milk first, while the upper classes added it after the tea had been poured. It is thought that this happened because lower classes could not afford high quality cups so the milk was added first to prevent the cups from cracking. However it is chosen to add the milk in, it is oftentimes most fantastic to add the milk to a strong black tea if it has too much bite because it will calm the tannins. However it is becoming very popular to add milk to all sorts of teas to create lattes. 
Both high and low teas can be enjoyed for afternoon tea. High tea used to be called meat tea and it was had at the end of lengthy workday with family in the lower classes. Low tea was a light meal or snack, enjoyed by the British upper classes in the late afternoon to tide them over till their more substantive dinner in the evening. Low tea was frequently a social event, enjoyed in the company of friends and associates. Even the type fo table used for serving high and low tea could be used to distinguish the two. High tea would be consumed in a high dining room table, while low tea was served in a sitting room with a lower table such as a coffee table.
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