What Is Served at a Formal Tea?
Formal afternoon tea parties are typically attributed to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. This British royal unwittingly started the ritual in the 1800s when she bucked tradition and requested a bit of food with her tea. This was to quell the pangs of hunger that arose thanks to the long stretches between meals. Inevitably she turned this into a social event with her friends and the formal tea party was born. For modern formal tea parties, what you serve depends on what type of formal tea party you host.
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Types of Tea
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Of course the star of any formal tea party will be the tea itself. Many flavors are available to you depending on your preference and taste. Earl Grey tea, so named after the Prime Minister to King William IV, is a black tea enhanced by Bergamot oil. This exotic blend was said to be a gift from a Chinese mandarin to the Earl. Other options include Oolong, red or green teas, which all come in an assortment of flavors. Serve tea already brewed in teapots or offer a variety of teabags.
Cream Tea
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Cream Tea is the most basic of the formal tea parties. It features a steaming pot of tea and baked scones as the main attraction. Scones are light, versatile, quick breads that originated in Scotland. They can be made with fruits, herbs or spices to fit any season or holiday. Serve them warm and split open, and provide such traditional toppings as clotted cream, marmalade or lemon curd.
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Low Tea
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Afternoon tea, or "low tea," typically occurs between 3 and 5 p.m. It was so named because these formal tea parties took place in the parlor, where the chairs and tables were lower than the more formal dining room. In addition to scones, curd or jam, low tea features tea sandwiches made of thin slices of bread and cut into elegant finger foods. Two or three sweets, such as tea cookies and petitsfours, are also provided. All these dainty goodies may be served on serving caddies.
High Tea
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Historically, "high tea" occurred when laborers returned home around 6 p.m. and it resembled the evening meal. Many modern "high tea" menus for formal tea rooms are similar to low tea, with tea sandwiches, scones and sweets. However there is no set menu for modern high tea; larger parties may include soups, salads and entrees served in courses as a sit-down dinner. This allows you to include dishes that can fit any season, occasion or holiday.
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References
- Afternoon to Remember: Etiquette and History of Afternoon Tea
- English Tea Store: Earl Grey Tea
- Teavana: Tea Party History and Etiquette
- Tea Party Guide: Low Tea Menu for the Most Popular Style of Tea Party
- Joy of Baking: English or Afternoon Tea Party Tested Recipes & Videos
- Bigelow Tea: Formal Afternoon Tea
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
