Tea Time

I remember my first tea set as a child. It was called the Lucy Tea Party set. I invited everyone to play tea with me. Later I was given a porcelain tea set with a beautiful picture of two little girls are friends on the front of each piece. I kept that set till I was a grown woman. I still have the little creamer. I collect teacups and saucers now and a few teapots. I display them in my dining room.

The Tea Party

Author: Unknown

I had a little tea party
One afternoon at three
Twas very small
Just I, myself and me

Myself ate up the sandwiches
While I drank up the tea
Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.

Special Tea Cup Tea

Have guests bring their favorite tea cup or one with a special story behind it. Take time during the tea to have each person share their special cup or a special tea time memory. This one takes some preparation on the part of the hostess though. If the guests don't regularly drink tea, they will often come with a coffee mug, or won't bring one at all. The hostess should have some of her tea cups available and let the guest pick one they like. If they felt so inclined, the guest could tell why they picked it or just appreciate the stories that others tell.

Garden/Picnic Tea

The Victorians loved picnics because of the wonderful chance to get away from the formal withdrawing rooms and stiff social demands of high society. Picnics were usually more casual and included games, walks, stories and musical performances. Set up tables in the garden and serve tea. You could even combine this with a hat tea. In the summer, it was quite acceptable to serve sorbet and lemonade at an outside tea!

Some Tea History

Over the past one hundred and fifty plus years, Afternoon tea has taken on many different incarnations. While the original traditions of the day, were born of the rules of a regimented English aristocracy, the evolving popularity of the afternoon tea genre has allowed for people of all backgrounds to partake in the rituals of tea, in one form or another.

The foundations for each tea ritual may be updated and adapted to fit the needs of a modern hostess.

As to not be redundant, each menu below includes the service of hot, loose leaf decanted tea, unless otherwise noted.

AFTERNOON TEA or LOW TEA: A traditional afternoon tea is served between 3 PM and 5 PM at a low table. The menu consists of three courses-assorted crustless finger sandwiches and savories, scones with Devonshire (clotted) cream and preserves and assorted finger sweets and petit fours. It is not uncommon for a trifle or dessert to added as a fourth course.

INFORMAL AFTERNOON TEA: Served in a salon or outdoor setting, with either placement seating or casual seating at low tables. Candles are never used.

FORMAL TEA/RECEPTION TEA: Service is set buffet style, on white linens, in the dining room. All foods must be easy to consume without utensils. Guests are not formally seated, but,encourraged to mingle throughout reception rooms while standing. Candles may be used after 5 PM, with the curtains drawn.

Some Tea Etiquette

1. Does one drink tea or take tea? One drinks tea. During the Victorian era, the term to take tea was used by the lower classes and considered a vulgar expression by the upper classes.

2. Why is the shape of a teapot different from a coffee or chocolate pot? The teapot is designed with a lower rounded body to insure the tea leaves have the proper room for expansion during the infusion process. The lower placement of the spout on the vessel allows for the tea to be poured without interfering with the leaves.

3. What is the correct placement of the teapot on the table? The spout of the teapot and the tea kettle faces the hostess or pourer.