Entertaining: How to Create a Splendid Afternoon Tea Party
Forget a mug of builder's and a digestive and make teatime a treat with pretty china, tiny sandwiches and dazzling decorative touches
There is something rather delightful about an afternoon tea party. After all, this is pretty much the definition of a non-essential meal. Taking tea is not about fueling your day, but about having fun and socialising over miniature sandwiches and bijou cakes, all washed down with lashings of lovely tea. No wonder top hotels around the country can charge a premium for this afternoon treat, but you can replicate that indulgent feel at home, with our top tips for a perfectly poised tea party.
Use jars to hold cutlery
Old glass or stoneware jars are an attractive way to present cutlery and strike a softly informal note. If you don’t have an old pot like this one, a regular jam jar with the label washed off works just as well.
Old glass or stoneware jars are an attractive way to present cutlery and strike a softly informal note. If you don’t have an old pot like this one, a regular jam jar with the label washed off works just as well.
Take it outside
If you are planning to host the tea party outside, make it easy for your guests. Provide soft blankets to sit on, napkins and individual trays, too, so that tea time al fresco is enjoyable and comfortable.
If you are planning to host the tea party outside, make it easy for your guests. Provide soft blankets to sit on, napkins and individual trays, too, so that tea time al fresco is enjoyable and comfortable.
Don’t forget the flowers
Fresh flowers are a must at any tea party, bringing organic colour and fragrance to your teatime feast. For a relaxed setting, dot small, pretty bunches of flowers up and down your table. Display them in jam jars or even cups for a country-style vibe, or stick to elegant vases for a traditional look.
Fresh flowers are a must at any tea party, bringing organic colour and fragrance to your teatime feast. For a relaxed setting, dot small, pretty bunches of flowers up and down your table. Display them in jam jars or even cups for a country-style vibe, or stick to elegant vases for a traditional look.
Get baking!
Freshly baked cake is at the heart of any good tea party, so dig out your trusty baking bible and get cooking! If you are hosting a party for four or more people, it’s a good idea to prepare a couple of different cakes. Trawl your cook books or the internet for cake recipes that can be frozen, so you can bake in advance, or prepare sweet treats such as fruitcake, which will happily keep for several days.
Freshly baked cake is at the heart of any good tea party, so dig out your trusty baking bible and get cooking! If you are hosting a party for four or more people, it’s a good idea to prepare a couple of different cakes. Trawl your cook books or the internet for cake recipes that can be frozen, so you can bake in advance, or prepare sweet treats such as fruitcake, which will happily keep for several days.
Think pretty presentation
This may sound obvious, but pretty presentation is vital when it comes to tea parties. The joy of a tea party is the abundance of dainty treats to enjoy, all presented beautifully on pretty plates and platters. So trim off those crusts, cut those sarnies into bite-sized fingers and dress them with cress, too.
This may sound obvious, but pretty presentation is vital when it comes to tea parties. The joy of a tea party is the abundance of dainty treats to enjoy, all presented beautifully on pretty plates and platters. So trim off those crusts, cut those sarnies into bite-sized fingers and dress them with cress, too.
Go for silver service
If you are lucky enough to have any items of silverware languishing at the back of your kitchen cupboards, a tea party is the time to get them out. Silver can tarnish over time, so give it a thorough clean first, with a specialist silver product, to restore its shine. This may be a departure from your usual style of dining, but that is part of the fun of a tea party. You can afford to be a little tongue-in-cheek about how you serve the food and drinks and your guests are sure to enjoy a little shot of old-style luxury.
If you are lucky enough to have any items of silverware languishing at the back of your kitchen cupboards, a tea party is the time to get them out. Silver can tarnish over time, so give it a thorough clean first, with a specialist silver product, to restore its shine. This may be a departure from your usual style of dining, but that is part of the fun of a tea party. You can afford to be a little tongue-in-cheek about how you serve the food and drinks and your guests are sure to enjoy a little shot of old-style luxury.
Go grand
If your home is blessed with a lovely drawing-room style area, like this one, why not give your tea party a more formal feel, to suit its surroundings. Polish your wooden table and then set it properly with linen napkins and your best china, for an air of restrained elegance.
If your home is blessed with a lovely drawing-room style area, like this one, why not give your tea party a more formal feel, to suit its surroundings. Polish your wooden table and then set it properly with linen napkins and your best china, for an air of restrained elegance.
It may be a tea party, but not everyone loves tea. Offer a range of cordials or fruit punches, too, for those guests who prefer a cold drink. Alternatively, for especially sweet-toothed friends, brew up some indulgent hot chocolate, finished with mini marshmallows. It’s a quirky spin on the traditional pot of tea.