Special Tea Party Dishes & Ideas

Both adults and children may enjoy the relaxation and whimsicalness of an old-fashioned tea party. The host may hold a tea party to honor a birthday or a wedding shower, or just to symbolize a few friends getting together for an afternoon of conversation, cookies and tea.

Tea Sandwiches

Ordinarily, guests do not want a heavy meal, so hosts often prepare a variety of tea sandwiches, including cucumber and cream cheese on Italian bread, or cheddar squares and sweet pickles on Pumpernickel bread.

Other Savory Dishes

Some hosts add other dishes to their menu, such as ham and cheese quiche bites, or a cup of soup to go with the rest of the delicate treats.

Sweets

In England, hosts often serve the traditional scone with a few varieties of jam. Hosts may also opt to include sweetbreads like cranberry orange bread, and a variety of tea cookies and shortbreads.

Tea

The host will brew a specialty tea for the occasion. If the occasion is in the fall or winter, she may prepare a cinnamon apple tea or spiced orange tea. In the warmer months, she may offer a lemonade-tea mixture that can be served hot or cold.

Children's Tea

If parents are serving a children's tea, they may wish to tweak the menu by offering the children spiced cider or vanilla milk tea, which has very little tea in it. Children will still munch on cookies and sweetbreads, while listening to beloved Beatrix Potter stories or singing, "I'm a Little Tea Pot."

References

• Tea Party Food
• Teapots N' More Free Recipes
• Whimiscal Tea Party For Children