Tea Party

Tea Party Basics

special tea party birthday cake

Whatever your occasion, there are a few basics you need for the perfect tea party. This checklist will ensure you have everything you need:

• Tea
• Cups and Saucers
• Teapot(s)
• Finger sandwiches or other food
• Sweets such as small cookies or petit fours
• Napkins
• Plenty of chairs and tables for all of your guests
• Decorations

The Perfect Tea

First, you will want to serve tea. Of course, if your party is for children, you may want to substitute lemonade or juice for real tea. However, if you are serving adults, consider having two or three varieties of tea, for example a classic black tea, a floral tea such as a jasmine or rose variety and a fruity tea such as a lemongrass or orange pekoe.

Of course, connoisseurs will tell you that you should not use tea bags. Splurge on some lovely loose-leaf tea and brew it by pouring boiling water over it in the pot. If your pot does not have a built in strainer, you can provide one with each pot so guests do not end up with leaves in their cups.

Make sure to have sugar, non-calorie sweetener and cream to serve with the tea. In addition, slices of lemon or fresh mint leaves can be used to garnish cups. Provide spoons for stirring the tea.

Serving Tea

To serve your tea, you will need to have at least one teapot for each variety of tea. Plan on having at least one pot per four guests. Inviting more guests than you have tea cups? Don't worry; there are lots of options. First, they do not all have to match. It is perfectly okay to serve your tea in different patterned cups, especially if they are all decorative or antique. So, mix your china sets or borrow from friends and neighbors. If you truly love tea, scour second hand stores for antique cup and saucer sets; often you can purchase a single cup and saucer quite inexpensively since they have been separated from their sisters. Alternately, most party rental suppliers have china available for rent for reasonable rates.

Tea Party Food

While finger sandwiches and petit fours are traditional fare for a tea, you can serve virtually any food you like at your party. The important things are to make the food you serve easy to eat and delicious. If you will have ample tables and chairs, you can include salads, quiches and other things that must be eaten with a fork. However, if you are short of seating, you should only serve small finger foods, such as those items appropriate for a Cocktail Party. Traditional English tea calls for scones and other cakes and cookies, although often tiny crustless sandwiches were served as well. While some people serve only sweets at a tea party, consider offering some other options as well. Many people are health conscious or have dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating more than a nibble of sugary treats. If you are serving small sandwiches or hors d'oeuvres at your tea, plan on each guest eating approximately eight pieces; allow for more if you have wide variety or if your party is near a mealtime when guests may arrive hungry.

Let Them Eat Cake

What is a petit four, anyway? A petit four is simply a teeny cake, often coated with a smooth, sugary frosting called fondant, or sometimes coated in white or dark chocolate. These tiny dessert morsels are prettily decorated and are festive for special occasions. They are perfect for a tea because they are self-contained and easy to serve.

For some occasions, you may choose to have a special full-sized cake for your tea party. For example, if your party event is a birthday, bridal or baby shower, guests often expect cake. Remember, a cake can serve as your centerpiece as well as your dessert so feel free to make or order an elaborately decorated cake.

Decorating for your Party

The decorations for your party should be heavily influenced by your event and theme. The beauty of tea parties is that they can be quite elegant even when you keep the décor simple. For example, cover tables with pastel tablecloths and place a small fresh flower nosegay on each table for lovely atmosphere on a small budget. If you have extra tea pots or cups, you can use those for centerpieces as well.

If your tea party is a birthday celebration, you can easily add balloons and an animal or character theme with the decorations. Invite guests to bring their dolls or teddy bears for a special children's tea party; you can even order small plastic tea cups and saucers for a perfect non-breakable table setting.

For a baby shower tea party, use pastel colors and add a baby motif such as booties or teddy bears. Planning a bridal shower tea? Set the stage for elegance with lace tablecloths and lots of fresh flowers. Consider giving the bride her very own tea service as a shower gift.

Most importantly, whatever kind of tea party you are throwing, relax and get creative. There is no wrong way to have a tea and you are only limited by your imagination.