How to Throw a Tea Party

While the classical tea party brings to mind old ladies in flowered dresses, it's really a great excuse for conversation, snacks and some warming beverages. You don't have to dress up, you can invite men as well as women and you can have coffee, green tea or herbal infusions in addition to black tea.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• China Or Silver Tea Services
• Saucers
• Tea Cups

1. Set up a table for serving, where guests can mingle about the party room, or set up a table for both serving and eating.

2. Arrange tea set neatly at one end of serving table. Besides the teapot, include sugar, lemon, milk and a pitcher of hot water to dilute the tea, as well as cups, saucers and teaspoons. You might set up a coffee service at the other end of the tea table, or to be nontraditional, set up a second tea service with another kind of tea.

3. Place your refreshments, which classically include sweet finger foods such as cookies, cakes, and muffins or scones on platters and cake stands in the middle of the table. You might also include finger tea sandwiches for a savory bite.

4. Provide plates, napkins and utensils, either at peoples' places, if you will serve and eat at the same table, or by the food.

5. Ask guests for their preferences - sugar, lemon, milk - and prepare tea accordingly. Add sugar before lemon because the acid in the lemon will prevent the sugar from dissolving. If you're including a coffee service or second tea service, ask one of your guests whether he or she will pour out.

6. Ask guests to serve themselves with the food.

7. Replenish tea, coffee and refreshments as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• The best tea is always made from good tea leaves in a teapot; try not to use bags if you can help it.
• Tea is served in many parts of the world, so you might consider that in holding your tea party: For example, you could serve Indian chai with samosas and Indian sweets; green tea with Japanese mochi, or rice cakes; or jasmine tea with Chinese potstickers, shrimp dumplings and other dim sum.
• If your party is very informal, have mugs instead of the cups and saucers.

[omghow]

on 5/31/2009 Love tea. thanks for sharing your passion. Cheers.

on 11/22/2005 The party I had for my SS class was in my tea room. I had hats on the backs of each chair, which the girls wore. I served pink lemonade in fancy glasses with sprigs of fresh spearmint. I had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and egg sandwiches, fancy cookies and fruit. We talked about etiquette and then went to the puppetry shop across the street. I gave each girl a small tea cup and saucer so she could start her own set. I took a picture of each girl and framed it with home-made frames and gave each girl a set of pictures. They loved it.

on 11/22/2005 I host a tea party for my nieces ages 7-16. They arrive in prom-type dresses. They each bring their own teacup to show off. We serve tea and juice in their cups. There are always cookies, candies, cucumber sandwiches and lots of fun.