How to Plan For An Afternoon Tea or Tea Party

Planning A Tea
One of my favorite things when planning a Tea is to read my Tea Notebook .
Where I keep all my Tea ideas in.

I pour myself a cup of Tea, to sip while planning a Tea
Such an enjoyable time of dreaming and planning a Tea

Preparing for a Tea

How many guest am I planning for
Pick out Invitations for the Tea

What type of Afternoon Tea will I be planning for:
 Low Tea, High Tea, Formal, Informal Tea

 There is all kinds of occasions to give a Tea for

Breakfast, Brunch, Luncheon, Cocktails, Dinner Party
 picnics, ladies meetings, church events,
 baby showers, wedding showers, bridesmaids, children's party

Any occasion you can think of to spend time with family and friends

 I like to pick a color scheme and theme for my Tea
Will I need help preparing the food
Will I do all the serving or will I need help to serve the Tea and food

What type of table to use, small, round, long, coffee table

  Where the Tea will be served, indoors or outdoors

 Choose the China, flatware, napkins, napkin rings, place cards,

 tablecloth, serving pieces, centerpiece

If I am planning for a large event, such as for a church group
I might use paper plates and napkins 
however I would serve the tea in china tea cups, and use flatware 

 While planning a Tea, Do not feel overwhelmed, 

for a Tea can be just simple pastry or muffin, and a cup of Tea

 A Tea can be simply casual at the kitchen table or in more elaborate setting.

You do not have to be a wonderful chef or spend hours in the kitchen preparing food.

Below are some guide lines to follow should you want to plan a Tea Event

 Be creative and your Tea will be lovely

What is Afternoon Tea?

A Tea held several hours after lunch and several hours before dinner

 Tea's were held to give you something to eat before dinner is served

Afternoon Tea became a reason for a social event, 
to relish time spent with friends, and family sharing Tea

For the company, conversation, and a small meal with Tea  

Light Afternoon Tea
Usually a Tea Serving:
 Scones,tea sandwiches,and bite size deserts

 milk, sugar cubes, honey, lemons,

 butter

 lemon curd, clotted cream, jam or preserves

Full Afternoon Tea
Usually a Tea Serving:
A bowl of soup, bite size quiche, side salad, tea sandwiches, scones, bite size desserts

 milk, sugar cubes, honey, lemons

 butter, lemon curd, clotted cream, jam or preserves

What is Low Tea?
Tea is served on a low table such as a coffee table or any other low table
usually for up to three people
For four or more you might want to serve Tea on a larger table

What is High Tea?
A Tea which is served on a high table, such as a dining table or other high table
Usually a Tea Serving:
A full course meal

 Planning A Menu
What will my budget be, what foods am I planning to serve 

Will I serve ready-made food, semi-homemade food, or homemade food

Check recipes for all the ingredients needed in the pantry

 If I am serving scones, check the freezer, or make fresh scones

Menu

 Bite size deserts, tea sandwiches, scones, or full meal 

with milk, sugar cubes, honey, lemons,

 butter, lemon curd, clotted cream, jam or preserves
Garnishes for trays and food:
edible flowers, herbs, fruit peels, curled chocolate

Types of Tea to serve
Basic Teas are:

Black, Oolong,Green, White, or Herbal in loose leaf or tea bags 

Suggestions of how tea can be served:
Hot Tea, Iced Tea Frozen Mint Tea,Tea Spritzer, Sorbets
Remember Tea can also be used in baking recipes

Whichever Afternoon Tea,or Tea Party you choose to serve

Make the setting attractive, and the food appealing as possible 

  Tea Time is meant to be a relaxing time spent with friends, and family

or a just a few stolen moments to enjoy a cup of Tea alone

TEA CUP TIPS

Tea Cup Etiquette 

When setting the Tea Table

1. Place the teacup and saucer at the right of the plate, above the knife

2.  

Place tea cup on saucer  with the handle on the right of the saucer,

 and position tea cup handle at 4:00 o'clock

The tea spoon is placed 

3. Hold the teacup with index and middle finger in handle.

4. No pinky finger is extended as some might think.

While standing the saucer is always held with the tea cup.

5. Always pour the teacup 3/4 full, to avoid spilling, 

and to have room for stirring in sugar, honey, lemon, or milk

6. Never add lemon and milk together, for the milk will curdle

7. Take a sip of Tea, (for taste) before adding milk

8. Always add milk after stirring in sugar, or honey

7. Never make musical sounds when stirring

8. Always sip Tea, never guzzle down the Tea 

9. Always look down into the teacup when sipping, never look outward.

10. Place tea spoon on the back  of saucer after finish stirring Tea 

11.  The hostess pours Tea in each Teacup  while holding the cup with the saucer for each guest,

unless a designated person is asked to pour the Tea

12. Always pour Tea into Teacup from the guests right, while holding the cup and saucer while pouring

HOW TO MAKE FROZEN MINT TEA

Frozen Mint Tea Recipe

Or use this recipe to drink Hot Mint Tea

1 cup of fresh spearmint

2 family size tea bags

1 and half cups of sugar

one gallon of water

This is usually the only time that I use tea bags:

Use fresh tap water, never distilled water, 

 use cold water, never hot

Use one cup of fresh spearmint leaves, 

and two family size tea bags

In a 2 quart sauce pan,  I use an enamel sauce pan, with a glass lid. I took off the knob handle of the glass lid, it lets the steam come through like a tea kettle. 

Bring to a rolling boil, keep covered and steep for five minutes at least.

 I like to let the mint tea steep eight minutes.

Add enough fresh cold tap water to your gallon pitcher to dissolve the sugar

Add 1 and half cups of sugar

Stir until sugar dissolves

Strain out the spearmint, and remove the two tea bag from your sauce pan

Add your steeped  mint tea liquor to the gallon pitcher and finish filling with tap water.

After the Mint Tea cools, you can fill old clean plastic milk  jugs and freeze.

To serve cut open the top of the milk jug, 

and add to your punch bowl. 

See the frozen Mint Tea in the Julep Cup