This is not a political tea party! This is pure, sophisticated fun! Get out your china tea cups and prepare to drink with your pinky extended!
This is very easy to plan. Here are two links, one British and one American.
The Menu
- Several kinds of tea, both loose leaf and bagged.
- Finger sandwiches.
- Baked goods. (The link to the British website will lead you to excellent recipes.)
- Finger sandwiches.
- Jams and jellies.
- I almost forgot: finger sandwiches.
- Whatever your imagination can devise!
These can all be made in advance and if you set up a buffet, it allows your guests to easily serve themselves. If your house will allow it, have several smaller conversation tables.
The Tea
Each table should have one or more teapots steaming with a couple of teas, honey, lemon slices, sugar, fake sugar (if you must), spoons, small plates for tea bags, and…well, you probably know how to set a table. The gist is that you can have the food items at a buffet table, but for a proper tea, keep the teapots and accompaniments on the dining tables.
As a conversation starter, put a flyer on each table with the names and properties of each of the teas being served. For example, did you know that Bergamot tea is used to treat mild depression and digestion problems?
Ginger tea can help with nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, cramping, circulation, stress and anxiety.
Raspberry leaf tea can be beneficial for pregnant women.
Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Tips
To help with finances and the work, ask one or two friends to co-host with you. They can help with the baking, and they can provide pretty tea sets, china, serving dishes, tablecloths. (Nothing has to match.)
Decorate to the nines! Find fancy tiered servers, cupcake trees, a variety of china tea sets…put a request out to everyone you plan to invite. They’ll offer their items.
Don’t limit your invitations to women! Men will enjoy it also.
Make as much as you can in advance, so you can enjoy the afternoon.
In your invitation, you might want to specify “Sunday” dress. Or not. Your choice.
In Closing
This is a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours with friends.