topic Re: What makes it a "tea party"? in Kitchen

What makes it a "tea party"?

house_cat — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 19:45:28 GMT

I've mentioned in an earlier thread that I'm hosting a luncheon for my friends later this month. I'm thinking of making it a tea party theme. It might sound corny, but I've always loved girlie, fussy, pretty foods. With a husband and two sons, I rarely had a chance to indulge myself this way.

Here's my question:

What are the necessary elements to distinguish it as a tea party?

If you have an suggestions for food items, that would be great, too.

Thank you in advance - I'm looking forward to reading your ideas.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Desertdi — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 19:53:10 GMT

Canapés, finger sandwiches..........a pastry cart, and of course, a tea service

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

jaxs mom — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 19:53:35 GMT

I think tea party is a lot looser than serving high tea. Are you thinking more of a high tea?

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

house_cat — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 19:56:20 GMT

@jaxs mom

I was thinking of a luncheon with a tea party theme - so I need to have enough foods to constitute "lunch".

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

ECBG — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:25:33 GMT

Finger size sandwiches, sweet and savory items as well as dessert. I went to one and the hostess made a macarron cake. Oh! I'll never have another one like that! YUM!

http://dish.allrecipes.com/host-a-tea-party-brunch/

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

house_cat — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:27:25 GMT

@ECBG

Thank you! I'll add that page to my Pinterest Tea Party board!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

wildcat fan — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:34:46 GMT

I think the most memorable tea parties I've attended were more about the table and buffet set up/decorations than the food itself (dainty or colorful china, flowers, linens, carved melon fruit baskets, etc.) One time there was a teacup at each place with tea bags and flowers inside that the host meant as a take home gift while we drank ice tea and lemonade from the host's glassware. Another time there were little flower vases with name cards at each place that we took home afterwards. As you mentioned, the place had a girlie feel with pinks, yellows, greens throughout.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Imaoldhippie — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:35:24 GMT

I always thought scones and tea in the afternoon was a "real" English Tea Party.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

ECBG — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:39:00 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
@ECBG

Thank you! I'll add that page to my Pinterest Tea Party board!

@house_cat,If you happen to make a homemade macarron cake, I'm coming!!!LOL!!!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

noodleann — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:55:29 GMT

Petit fours. There must be petit fours. Daintily arranged on plates with doilies.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Kitlynn — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 21:20:32 GMT

My daughter surprised me with a tea party for my sixtieth birthday in December last year and I loved it! There were tea cups and dainty plates at all the place settings and different pots of tea with different teas. Also sugar cubes and milk in sugar and creamer pitcher. Flowers in the middle of the table and tiered trays of finger sandwiches and tiered trays of small cookies and chocolates. Soup was also served along with champagne. It was fabulous and she invited my four best friends along with my Sister and herself. It was just so much fun and honestly everyone talked about it for several weeks afterwards. I think it is fun to just go things up all girlie once in a while and just enjoy!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

StylishLady — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 23:02:35 GMT

Our church has had an English Tea Party the past couple of years. It's a fun time to dress up, hats, gloves, fancy, and have fun. Here is what I wore this year (white gloves), and then last year.(black gloves). Maybe next year navy gloves?

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Libbylady — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:41:58 GMT

HATS! OUTRAGEOUS FLOWERED HATS!

You could suggest that each guest wear one, or ask each to come with a cheap straw beach hat (from a dollar store), provide silk flowers, tulle, ribbon, and some hot glue guns. Have them start making their hat as they arrive and then wear them for lunch and pictures.

If you don't want to have them make a hat, you could do that beforehand and hang them from nearby trees.

Tea cups purchased at garage sales, each different, could be the favor to take home. Have the cups cleaned after use and provide a candy bar area to fill the cup. Have squares of tulle, rubber bands and ribbons to tie up the filled cups.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Libbylady — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:46:11 GMT

Oh, and don't forget lots of doilies!

Also, tussie-mussies could be favors too.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Sooner — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 02:00:28 GMT

High Tea is actually a workingman's dinner. It is NOT the fancy tea. That is afternoon tea or a cream tea. I've read that the "high" part comes from tea served at the "high" or eating table in a home, and is what we would call supper with sausages, potatoes, cabbage and such.

Afternoon tea has scones, tea sandwiches and often little sweet bits often served on a 3-tiered serving stand. There is a certain order normally followed, I think scones on the bottom, then the finger sandwiches, then the sweets on top. But maybe it's sandwiches first, can't remember!

Small sandwiches, scones, and cakes would make it a fancy tea. For afternoon, English Afternoon, Darjeeling, Ceylon or a green tea would be appropriate. Flavored like peach are great iced for the summer as well.

Sounds like a lot of fun! Milk in last and no pinkies up please! LOL!!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Sooner — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 02:20:22 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
High Tea is actually a workingman's dinner. It is NOT the fancy tea. That is afternoon tea or a cream tea. I've read that the "high" part comes from tea served at the "high" or eating table in a home, and is what we would call supper with sausages, potatoes, cabbage and such.

Afternoon tea has scones, tea sandwiches and often little sweet bits often served on a 3-tiered serving stand. There is a certain order normally followed, I think scones on the bottom, then the finger sandwiches, then the sweets on top. But maybe it's sandwiches first, can't remember!

Small sandwiches, scones, and cakes would make it a fancy tea. For afternoon, English Afternoon, Darjeeling, Ceylon or a green tea would be appropriate. Flavored like peach are great iced for the summer as well.

Sounds like a lot of fun! Milk in last and no pinkies up please! LOL!!

By the way--there is a great site about Afternoon Tea, that is a uk site, you can google it and find a lot of tips and answers to questions, along with many others.

The English Tea Store online has lots of goodies, and real Brown Betty teapots made in the UK! I have ordered a lot of things from them and they are good to do business with. Also Harney Tea, Tealux, and Upton Tea (which has lots of teas and information, and very good people to answer the phone and answer your questions, give you suggestions!).

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

momtochloe — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 02:11:08 GMT

Oh goodness @house_cat I am such a burger and fries kind of girl I am clueless as to what constitutes or should/should not be included for a tea party but I have to say I have really enjoyed your threads on your upcoming festivities and I can't wait to hear how everything went!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

Harpa — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:04:09 GMT

Finger sandwiches: cucumber (an absolute must!), egg salad, chicken salad; scones w/ lemon curd & clotted cream, sweet dainties like petite fours; several kinds of teas in different, fancy tea pots....then the dressing up, fancy tableware: cloth napkins,mismatched tea cups; and finally, a centerpiece!

Have fun at your tea party!

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

house_cat — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 13:59:46 GMT

Thanks, everyone!

I'm more excited than ever, having read all your responses! All the ideas are wonderful, but I will have to be creative about adding more actual food, since I invited everyone for lunch.

Re: What makes it a "tea party"?

perfumera De La Luz — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:03:41 GMT

I agree w/ everyone's comments- especially asking guests to dress up in a hat at least. Send the invites early so people have time to think of what they want to wear.

Years ago when I used to cater we made salmon mouse and used a pastry bag and cute tip to pipe it onto a slice of cucumber and top it w/ a tiny piece of fresh dill. I don't have the recipe but it was fairly simple, I'm sure you can find a good one on line. And they look and taste great!

Also chicken salad on thin bread, we always cut off the crusts and sometimes used interesting cookie cutters for the shape of the sandwhich... like a circle or a star...if you do a chicken or tuna salad sandwhich the meat needs to be thinned out, a whirl in the food processor to make the texture thinner is best.

Using a 3 tiered plate stand with different items on each level is a classic look.

You might want to make a mix of some great classical music like Bach and Mozart, and V. Williams to loop in the backround... or hire a violinsit!

As a party favor you can give each guest a lovely hankerchief.

Also offer an interesting herbal tea and green tea in addition to black.