When we were first courting Andrew would call me in the US from Australia. This of course was a costly matter. One day after he phoned me, the kettle I had put on started boiling. "One moment," I told Andrew, "I just need to fix my tea."
"Oh, I'll call back, if you are having tea."
"Really, it will only take a moment."
"But I don't want to interrupt your dinner and this is long distance."
"Dinner? I'm just having a cup of tea."
"Oh I see, you are drinking tea, not eating tea."
Somehow the British "high tea" has been converted to just "tea" meaning the main evening meal. Another point to be made for American readers: do not ask for cream in your tea or coffee unless that is precisely what you want, for that is what you will be served; a nice thick helping of full cream.