How to Have a Tea Party!

Every little girl dreams of dress-up and tea parties. Big girls don't have to be left out of the fun! Planning a lovely tea party that friends will remember with pleasure for years to come doesn't have to be as complicated as you might think!

Instructions

1. 

   A tea party can be approached in two ways, casual or formal. They are both appropriate, but you have to make sure the guest you invite fit your setting. Great-Aunt Alice may love a formal tea, but not appreciate the casual elegance of a tea outdoors. Chose your guests well! You do not have to have a whole house full of people. Just two or three friends make a great tea party. There are basics to every tea party that hold your theme together.

2. 

   Tea!
   What kind of tea party could you have without tea! There are three kinds of tea based on their processing and three kinds of tea based on location; black tea is made from leaves that have been allowed to ferment the longest. The delicate green tea is steamed instead of fermented. The in-between Oolong teas are only partially fermented. Assam tea is grown in the Assam Valley of India. They are famous for their Tippy tea. China Blacks have been around for thousands of years. Darjeeling is the "champagne of tea" and is grown in the Darjeeling Providence of India. You can blend any of these teas with flavored fruits or herbs to make your own blend. Experiment before your party to find a tea that you really enjoy! Serve several varieties to new tea enthusiast!

   A Spot of perfect of tea!
   Use 1 teaspoon of loose tea per cup plus one spoonful for the pot!
   If you HAVE to use tea bags, use 1 bag less than the number of cups you desire.
   Fill a teakettle with cold water and bring it to a boil.
   Pour a little hot water from the tap into your glass teapot to warm it. Never pour boiling water directly into a cold teapot! After the pot is warmed, pour out the water.
   Add the tea, and then put the lid back on the pot until the water boils. If you do not have a tea strainer, use a tea ball. As soon as the kettle comes to a rolling boil, remove from heat. Pour boiling water into the teapot and let the tea brew for 3-6 minutes. Lengthening the brewing time will just make the tea taste bitter. If you want stronger tea, use more tealeaves not more time. Put a tea cozy over your pot until you are ready to serve. When you are ready to serve gently stir the tea before pouring it through a tea strainer into the teacups. If you used tea bags, remove them before serving.
   The rule used to be adding milk first, then tea. This was to prevent the delicate glaze on teacups from cracking years ago. This isn't an issue anymore, so add the milk after the tea to get the right color consistency. Never mix lemon with milk as citrus will spoil the milk. Cream is too heavy for tea always use milk.

3. 

   Table Setting!
   As soon as you start to plan your tea party put the word out to relatives and friends. Borrow what is needed if you don't have it. You do not have to own a full service for 12 to have a tea party. I find a lot of my teapots and pretty cups and saucers at garage sales. I have little teapots that I use for little girls, or someone who doesn't like tea. I simply pour their beverage in a small teapot and set it next to my guest. It might insult the Queen, but I didn't invite her!
   Always use your best linens. I like to layer the table for a dainty effect. I use an everyday tablecloth on the bottom and overlay the cloth with lace or eyelet depending on the theme. I usually don't use placemats, as they tend to cover the pretty tablecloth. Always use linen or cloth napkins and don't wipe your lipstick on them.
   If you are serving scones you will need to give your guest a knife to slice their scone. They will need a teaspoon for jam and clotted cream. If you are serving cake they will need a fork. Only give your guest the appropriate silverware. You will need for your table:
   Tablecloth, napkins, cup and saucers, plates, teaspoons, sugar bowl, tea strainer if tea is loose, lemon dish, small bowls for jams and cream.
   Everything does not have to match! Sometimes the more variety of pretty dishes the prettier that table. I do like to keep the color schemes the same, but that is a personal preference. Be creative!
   Flowers on the table are lovely, but keep them to a minimum. With all the teapots, sandwich platters and yummy food being passed around there isn't a lot of room for flowers. Place them around the room to add a nice scent to the house.
   A tea table would not be complete without place cards. Make them special, unique and very personal and follow the theme of your table service. Make them a special memento that your guest can take with them. They will cherish it!

4. 

   A hand-written Invitation is a must! There are so many beautiful stationeries available today that sending an invitation is part of the fun! Make sure you tell your guest the surroundings for your tea party. If it is outside, ask your guest to wear their best tea party hat! Your guest will also know not to wear uncomfortable shoes.
   Let them know if the tea party has a theme. They may want to join in on the fun and dress accordingly. In Victorian times women brought their own teacup to a tea party. Their personal cups were housed in elaborate traveling boxes. The Duchess of Windsor has her own tea set that travels everywhere she does!
   All ladies of course will RSVP!

5. 

   Food!
   No tea party is complete without a special spread of goodies. Tea is traditionally between 3pm and 6 pm. The later the hour the heartier the meal.
   An afternoon tea around 3pm or 4pm would have tea sandwiches, cookies and scones with jam.
   A High Tea between 5pm and 6pm would be closer to an evening meal. High Tea is not another word for elegant finger foods. They still use this word interchangeable with supper in many countries.
   I've listed a selection of foods to mix and match according to taste, time and budget. I've inserted recipes on a few.
   *Scones -
   Dried Cherry Scones
   3 cups flour, 1/4-cup sugar, 1-tablespoon baking powder, 1/3-cup butter (cut in pieces), 1 cup dried cherries, 1 tablespoons orange zest ¾ cup heavy cream, 2 large eggs
   1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
   2. In large bowl combine first three ingredients. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in cherries and orange zest.
   3. In small bowl, combine cream and eggs, add to dry ingredients stirring just until moistened.
   4. On lightly floured surface, roll or pat dough to 1-inch thickness. Using 2-inch round cutter, cut scones and place on baking sheet.
   5. Back 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.

   *Lemon Curd Tartlets - use the ready-made tartlets in the freezer section.
   Lemon Curd
   Grate the zest of 2 large lemons, add 7 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 stick of real butter and 1 cup of sugar. Mix! Place in the top of a double boiler with water simmering under it. Stir occasionally. Beat eggs and then spoon a little of the hot lemon mixture into the eggs. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the lemon mixture, stirring constantly. Cook until curd is thick about 15-20 minutes. Cool to room temperature, fill tart cups and THEN refrigerate.

   *Cucumbers with herbed cream cheese on white bread, no crust.
   *Fake Devonshire Cream
   1 pint whipping cream, 2-tablespoon sour cream, 4 tablespoons confectioner's sugar. Chill bowl and beaters, and then whip all ingredients together in a bowl. Keep refrigerated until serving time.

   *Chicken Salad on croissants
   4 cups finely chopped chicken breast, 1-cup mayonnaise, 1-cup sour cream, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup chopped pecans nuts, 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries, 1 cup scallions chopped. Mix together refrigerate overnight!

   *Carrot and Raisin Spread
   Mix 2 cups of shredded carrots, ½ creamy peanut butter, tablespoon honey and ½ cup raisins. Spread on pumpernickel bread, trim crust!

6. 

   Entertainment!
   If you are just having a few close friends the joy of spending quiet time just talking is all you will need. If you are having a more elaborate affair check into hiring a string quartet. Your local High School band may be able to accommodate you. Music is traditional with tea, so a CD player with soft music is fine too.
   If you are part of a bridge or card club you can have the tea party as part of your traditional card meeting. If you want to have games, make sure they are wit and word games. You don't want a wild romp around the room to break your teapots. Especially if they are borrowed!

7. Ending your tea party!
   The hostess picking up her napkin signals the end of the tea party! She will pick up her napkin by the center and then guests will pick up their napkin by the center and loosely lay it to the left of their plate.
   Send your guests home with their own teacup filled with chocolate candies and then wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a curling ribbon. They will never drink tea out of their cup without remembering your party.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not clink your spoon when stirring your tea!

• Stir your tea in a side-to-side motion!

• Do not extend your pinkie when holding your teacup!

• Only lift the teacup to sip when seated.

• Lift saucer with the teacup when standing!

• Tea Time is adictive!