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LUXE LIVING

Afternoon Tea Party

Spring 2010
Afternoon Tea Party
By Caroline Chang, Serenity Events
Photographs Courtesy of Serenity Events and The Langham Huntington

What better way to gather with your friends than to have a relaxing afternoon tea party? The practice began when Anna, Duchess of Bedford, requested tea and snacks to suppress her appetite between lunch and dinner. She would invite her friends and the ritual caught on. Afternoon tea has become quite a trend in the last few years and can consist of a variety of themes, teas, and scrumptious treats. The vast variety of tea can be overwhelming and choosing the perfect drink can be a task in itself. However, some of the most popular types of tea are Ceylon, Assam, Darjeeling, Green, Earl Grey, and Oolong tea. Afternoon tea, by definition, is a light meal and a traditional menu usually consisting of mini quiche, petite side salad, savory tea sandwiches, delicious scones, mouth-watering tarts, sweet cookies and other tasty bite-size desserts.

Planning Your Afternoon Tea Party

For those who want to host their own charming tea party, here are a few pointers in planning a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon with friends and/or family. Start by sending stylish invitations that will match the theme of your afternoon tea and include all pertinent information. For instance, if you decide to have specific wardrobe requests (fancy or fun hats), include this information and don’t forget that an RSVP request adds special importance to the occasion.

Preparations

For a light afternoon tea, a good time to host your party is between three and five o’clock in the afternoon. Pick a beautiful, comfortable spot for the tea. If the weather is warm, an outdoor party might be nice, preferably in a garden setting. If indoors, find a cozy spot, perhaps near a glowing fireplace or in a pretty dining nook. Make sure to have enough seating for your guests. Dining chairs are nice and comfortable but folding chairs can work as well, especially for an outdoor setting. Have plenty of table space for displaying and serving, a low centerpiece, and room for guests to rest their teacups and plates for their treats. If you are going to use candles or flowers for decoration, use only non-scented candles and lightly-perfumed flowers. Let the delightful smells come from the food and tea that you are serving. Lastly, don’t forget to add soft music to create an enchanting affect.

Table Setting

Tea party basics include a china teapot, sugar bowl, creamer, and serving dishes. Besides their cup and saucer, each guest will need a small teaspoon, a fabric napkin, and a dessert-sized plate. Dessert forks may be required as well if cake is on the menu. Also remember decorative utensils for cutting and serving treats and dipping into delicious toppings. If you are setting up the tea cups for your guests, they should be placed to the right of the place setting. The handle should be turned out so that it is pointing to the right of the cup.

Forks are on the left, knives and spoons on the right. The blade of the knife should be turned in toward the plate. If you use regularly-sized butter knives, instead of smaller spreaders, knife rests are lovely additions and almost necessary. Your guests will find it difficult to rest the larger knives on the smaller plates. Water glasses sit on the right above the knife. Try to find luncheon-sized (nine-inch square) instead of dinner-sized (twelve-inch square) napkins. Place the napkin to the left of the plate or on the plate folded prettily or with a napkin ring. Adding a place card is a nice finishing touch to your table setting. Preparing everything before guests arrive leaves time for visiting and creating an atmosphere of gentility and friendship. Remember to sit back and enjoy the fellowship, good talk and wonderful food.

Tea Time Etiquette
• It is considered rude to stir your tea in wide circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o'clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o'clock position two or three times.
• The teaspoon should never be left in the teacup and is placed on the right side of the tea saucer when you are not using it.
• Never wave or hold your tea cup in the air. When not in use, set the tea cup back in the tea saucer. If you do not have a place to rest your tea, place the saucer in your lap with your left hand and hold the tea cup in your right hand.
• If having milk in your tea, pouring either the tea or the milk into the cup first constitutes good manners. However, it is probably better to pour the milk in the tea after it is in the cup in order to get the correct amount. In addition, cream is generally avoided as it can mask the taste of the tea.
• When having lemon with tea, delicate lemon slices are generally offered. Provide a small fork for guests to add lemon into their tea. Be sure never to combine lemon with milk in tea, as the lemon juice will cause the milk to curdle.
Bon appétit!