Are you someone who has dreamed of hosting a tea party since you were a little girl or boy? Are you still a tea lover enthusiast ready to make your dream come true? Whether you’re in love with the strict-rule tea-drinking experience in the style of Bridgerton or one of Jane Austen’s books, or want to add a personal twist, there are many ways to do so. It’s easy to entertain your group of friends all the while drinking flavourful tea and eating tasty snacks.

How to Set Up a Proper Tea Party?

Organising a tea party should be fun, so whether you throw one for Mother’s Day, your best friend’s bachelorette party, or just because, remember to have fun! If you’re having a more traditional tea party in mind, following the tea-drinking etiquette can help you set a more serious tone to it. If you’re going for something more modern or personal, feel free to “do you!” The following tips and tricks can help you find your way to a unique tea-drinking experience, no matter the tone or theme you choose.

1. Set Up the Table

An elegant tablecloth, whether crisp, clean linen or one that follows the party’s theme, is an excellent foundation for your table and will set an elegant tone for the rest of your décor, tea and tableware choices. A beautiful tea set is essential for making it real and creating the ultimate tea-drinking experience.

Both modern and traditional tea cup sets are available in the most reputable and well-equipped tea stores online; pick one considering the theme of your tea party and the variety of tea you plan to serve. Fine bone china, cast iron, ceramic, and glass are all suitable non-porous materials for tea cup sets. They’re available in different sizes, shapes, and patterns.

If you’re opting for a traditional English tea party, a fine bone china set consisting of a teapot and cups in classic shape and flower pattern might be the best option. For an Eastern twist, choose a cast-iron tea cup set in black, which is best for brewing green and black teas. If you plan to serve matcha, a delightful glazed ceremonial set, including a lead-free bowl, handmade whisk and tea scoop made from sustainable bamboo is a must.

You should place the teapot close to you for ease of access, regardless of the shape of the table, as you’re the one who should pour the hot beverage for your guests. Keep bowls of sugar and cream carafes close at hand. Include a teacup, saucer, teaspoon, snack plate, napkin, and any other utensils guests will require for the refreshments in each place setting. Mix teaware and tableware designs for a versatile table look or match them to create a harmonious outcome. Making place cards can simplify things and give your table a final touch.

2. Prepare the Tea

Get the tea ready and serve some. Instead of using individual tea bags, it’s ideal to serve the tea from teapots. To serve it properly, fill your tea pot with boiling water to “heat the pot” before making the tea. This technique prevents the tea from cooling down too quickly. Next, add a teabag or tea leaves to the pot. Following the tea assortment, pour hot water and steep. Before serving, ensure to strain the tea’s leaves to decant them.

Provide a selection of teas to satisfy your guests’ varied tastes. English breakfast tea, peppermint, jasmine, Darjeeling, and black Ceylon tea are well-liked options. Ensure to provide a range of options for sweetening each cup of tea to go with your selection. Honey, brown sugar, and sugar cubes are common. A splash of milk is another favourite.

3. Serve Tea-party Appropriate Foods

You should use as few utensils as possible when eating tea party food. Tea sandwiches, scones, muffins, and cakes are common accompaniments. You can serve the scones with jam, clotted cream (a popular British treat made from thick, full-cream cow’s milk), and traditional British tea.

Get a several-tier cake stand to serve the food traditionally. Remove the crusts from soft white or brown bread to make popular tea party sandwiches. Most have a range in their display. Other classic choices are cucumber sandwiches, simple ham and cheese, salmon and cream cheese, and egg salad frequently served on a separate dish or on the lower level of a tea stand.

The heartier baked items, such as muffins or scones, will be on the second tier of a cake stand. These sweets are consumed before the last course and after the savoury sandwiches are finished. The top level of the display features the sweeter and more delicate desserts. Remember that the primary purpose of afternoon tea is to foster social interaction so steer clear of serving too many people or heavy foods. Guests should be able to snack up to the top tier.