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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

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.

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