How to Throw a Summer Tea Party
Summer is a time for fun in the sun, or shade, and the perfect weather to throw a tea party-as long as you serve iced tea. You can make a special brew for the guests, all of whom will enjoy the sizzling time to socialize. You can throw a summer tea party with a lot of iced tea and a few simple tips. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Invite People
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Send out your invitations. Your tea party can be as large or small as you like, but do stress on the invite that it’s all about summer. Tell guests to dress in casual summer wear and a gaudy summer hat.
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Set up your party area. You want to hold your party in an area that’s going to be cool enough for people to hang out and socialize. If you must have the party in the middle of the day, set up shade areas outside or hold your party indoors in air conditioning. You can also wait until dusk when things start to cool down outside as long as you have a bug zapper or citronella candles and adequate lighting so people can see each other. Make sure there are enough seats or, if you don’t have extra chairs, set up blankets on the lawn where people can sit and chat or lay down and gaze at the stars during an evening soiree.
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Prepare your tea. You do not want to serve blasting hot tea at a blasting hot summer tea party. Make iced tea instead. Don’t use a sugary mixture but make your own sun tea by steeping eight tea bags in a large jar of water all day in the sun. Remove the tea bags and chill the tea. Have slices of lemon, lime, mint sprigs, ice and sugar for guests to add to their beverage. Make several jars of tea for a large gathering.
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Make some summer snacks. Sliced fresh fruit, vegetables, crackers, nuts and beef jerky or preserved smoked sausage slices are all good. Don’t opt for creamy dressings, cheese or other foods that melt or curdle in the sun.
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Keep guests cool and comfortable. If it gets too hot outdoors, make sure people can move inside. You can also set up very fine misting sprinklers around the yard so people can wet their faces and toes for an instant cool down. A kiddie pool is also a good place to cool hot feet.
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Tips & Warnings
Have a gaudy hat contest if you like, just make sure you note that on the invite to encourage more participation. The winner gets a mystery prize, one you can pick at the last minute when someone wins. Maybe you can give them a garden gnome.
Have some juice, ice water and soda on hand for anyone who is not fond of tea.
Jazz up your food and tea servings with colorful, inexpensive dishes and cups.
Make sure your lawn furniture and blankets are clean for people to sit on. Hose them off and wash them in preparation.
Clean your yard so your guests aren’t hanging out in a weedy, debris-ridden area that is badly in need of mowing.
- Photo Credit Illustration by Ryn Gargulinski
