How to Host a High Tea

There’s nothing wrong with a low-key, casual get-together, but sometimes you want to host a gathering that’s a little fancier. A high tea is a great solution if you’re looking for an elegant and stylish soiree that’s still easy on the hostess. The best part: everything is prepared ahead of time, so you’re free to mingle with your guests.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Teas
• Tea pots
• Tea cozies
• Tea cups
• Saucers
• Cloth napkins
• Silver
• Scones
• Tea sandwiches
• Pastries
• Cream and sugar
• Jam
• Clotted cream or whipped cream

1. Pick your teas. Serve two types of tea to cater to different tastes. One should be a light-bodied tea such as a green or white tea, while the other can be a stronger tea such as Assam or Lapsang Souchong.
2. Brew both teas and cover the tea pots with cozies (like a sweater for your tea pot) to prevent heat loss while waiting on guests.
3. Set a lovely table. Use your best tea cups, saucers, cloth napkins and silver to make the occasion special.
4. Make your sandwiches. Some good choices include smoked salmon, cucumber, and deviled egg. Make sure to slice the ingredients thinly and spread either butter or cream cheese on the bread to prevent soggy sandwiches. Don’t forget to cut the crusts off and slice the sandwiches into fourths.
5. Assemble the trays. Whether you have homemade or store bought scones and pastries probably matters less than how you display them. Traditionally, high teas use a three-tiered platter, with pastries on the bottom tray, savory sandwiches in the middle, and scones on the top. You can also simply place the three courses on different platters to pass. The pastries can include anything from fruit tarts to cream puffs to brownies to cookies or whatever sweets you and your guests like.
6. Review your condiments. You’ll need cream and sugar for the tea (lemon is fine, too) and jam and clotted or whipped cream for the scones.
7. Pour the tea. When your guests arrive, greet them warmly, pour their tea, and let the fun begin!

Tips & Warnings

• A high tea is a good way to celebrate wedding or baby showers, holidays like Mother’s Day and birthdays, or big events in girls’ lives.
• Scones are divine with real Devonshire clotted cream, but it can be hard to find in American stores. You can order it online, make your own or substitute real whipped cream.
• Be prepared for a true Anglophile guest to point out that you’re not really serving high tea. In Britain, high tea or “meat tea” is traditionally a heavy meal eaten at night. The Americanized high tea is actually an elaborate version of what the Brits know as afternoon tea.
• Not everyone will appreciate all of the elements of a classic tea, such as smoked salmon sandwiches or rye bread. Offer a variety of fillings and breads so everyone finds something to enjoy.

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