Not Your Ordinary Tea Parties!
Great for a group of two or two hundred, the tea party is a versatile event whose popularity continues to this day! Tea can be a great excuse for a get-together of you and your closest friends, family, business associates – even teddy bears! Here are a few ideas and menu suggestions to get your creative juices flowing! Click here for more information on traditional tea ceremonies.
Menu:
Smoked salmon garnished with capers
Cheese platter
French bread
Assorted olives
Cashews
Tea Suggestion: Green Tea Martinis
1 ounce steeped Citrus Ginger Green Tea chilled
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
2 ounces Citron Vodka
This basic menu can be gathered in no time with little preparation. It is perfect for a gathering of friends and the green tea martinis offer a unique twist!
Menu:
Simple sweet crackers (graham crackers work great –add peanut butter or chocolate frosting for a treat)
Sugar cookies cut in fun shapes with colored sugar on top
Tea suggestion: Cinammon Rooibos or sweetened Crimson Berry Tisane
Invite a group of children and their favorite doll or stuffed animal over for a fun afternoon tea. Serve tea in a small teapot with small tea cups at a child-sized table. Let the tea cool somewhat before serving, and be sure to set enough places at the table for each child and his/her “guest”!
Menu:
(we recommend building the menu around the guest of honor’s favorite foods, but here are a few “must-haves”)
A variety of finger sandwiches
Maids of Honor (these are delightful little nut tarts that are so apropos!)
Scones served with clotted cream and jam
Shortbread
Tea suggestion: English Breakfast Black Tea or Afternoon Blend Black Tea
A personal favorite of ours! We love throwing a tea as an alternative (or supplement) to the typical bridal shower. Schedule a pre-wedding tea on a day when most of the out-of-town guests have arrived for the wedding festivities. This activity allows both sides of the family to socialize in a comfortable setting before the “real deal” begins. Be sure to cut at least one tea sandwich in the shape of a heart using a simple cookie cutter. If you send out invitations, it may be fun to include the following rhyme:
"To Celebrate the Bride-to-Be
Please Join Us For a Bridal Tea!"
Menu:
Cheesy egg bake
Toast, butter and jam
Sweet cakes and breads (lemon poppyseed is a favorite!)
Tea suggestion: Holiday Spice Black Tea
A tea during the hustle and bustle of the holidays is a perfect excuse to slow down, take a breather, and enjoy the season! Because evenings are generally committed to the typical host of social gatherings at that time of year, mornings often work well for a holiday tea. Keep your menu simple and fill it with items that can be prepared in advance, so you have a chance to slow down and enjoy the tea, too.
Menu:
Cold cucumber-mint salad
Potato salad
Cold fried chicken
Plain scones or biscuits with honey
Tea suggestion: Korakundah Estate Nilgiri Black Tea or Greenwood Estate Ceylon Black Tea
Nothing is better on a hot summer day than a cold glass of iced tea. Whether it’s in your backyard, at the beach, or at the park, be sure to arrange this tea in a shaded area and by all means do not choose any menu items that require your oven! If you want a hot addition to the menu, grill it. If the item needs to be baked, buy it!
Menu:
Fried Plantains
Cheesy rolls
Grilled meat on a skewer (beef, pork, sausage, chicken, etc)
Pork and black bean stew
Tea suggestion: Yerba Mate
This "tea" is sure to be "outside of the box!" Plan your menu around traditional Brazilian cuisine and serve with the drink of the gauchos, yerba mate. To be truly authentic, drink the yerba mate from gourds sipped through a bombilla (similar to a metal straw with a sieve at the bottom).
Menu:
Chocolate pots de creme
Scones, clotted cream and jam
English toffee or similar sweet treat
Tea suggestion: Silver Needle White Tea, Sencha Green Tea, Ti Kuan Yin Oolong, Rembeng Assam Black Tea, Ancient Maiden Pu-Erh
What better reason to have a tea party than to taste teas? Choose 5-6 of your favorite teas or 5-6 new varieties that you’ve always wanted to try. Remember to sample your teas before you begin eating (a delicate white tea is no match for a chocolate dessert!). For new tea drinkers, we suggest sampling at least one tea of each tea variety for comparison (i.e. white, green, oolong, pu-erh and black) – you’ll be amazed by the variety. Then wrap-up the event with a few satisfying desserts. For some tips on how to taste tea like a pro, click here.
