Time for Tea
For those that are not into rowdy or overcrowded gatherings, a fancy and fun way to entertain friends and family is to host your own afternoon tea party. Easily created in your own home, from a cosy kitchen affair to a summer garden party, we Brits love a tea-party.
2 minute read
Gather the basics
An afternoon tea party is a great time to haul out and dust off all those inherited pieces from aunt so-and-so or granny. Useful and visually impressive things to use include a tiered cake stand, stylish and classic tea sets or crockery, doilies, and stylish napkins. Should you not have any of the basics, you can easily find them at charity shops. It does not matter if the pattern doesn’t match, as the mismatch adds to the charm.
Décor
Use your existing dining table and any other table you have in your house that is the same length. Cover the tables with tablecloths or a nice coloured fabric. The pattern of the tablecloths can be anything you want – floral, striped or spotty. You can match the tablecloth with the overall theme of your tea party
The Drinks
Be sure to provide a wide selection of teas using either teabags or loose tea. Teas such as chamomile, Earl Grey, herbal, peppermint, fruit and breakfast tea add variety for your guests. You can add some exotic teas from the east as well, such as Oolong and green tea for something different. Also, make sure the milk and sugar are easily accessible in your table setting to allow guests to help themselves once you have poured their tea.
In summer, offering your guests some iced tea will make for a refreshing change. Also, giving your guests the choice of indulging in some Pimms or fizz will go a long way to breaking the ice at the gathering. Some other alcoholic beverages that are perfect for an afternoon tea gathering are orange juice mimosas and some gin.
The Menu
There are no hard and fast rules about the food you serve at your tea party. You can stick to the classic afternoon tea options, or you can decide to match the food to your theme. The classic afternoon tea food consists of light cakes, scones and sandwiches, as well as some biscuits, petit four and pastries.
Traditional sandwich fillings include smoked salmon, cucumber and egg mayonnaise. Keep it simple and stress-free; avoid cutting the crusts off sandwiches unless you feel it’s necessary.
An afternoon tea party for a housewarming or small gathering is perfect and easy to arrange. Due to the laid back atmosphere, you can really take the time to catch up with your guests while being relaxed in your own home.
