While the image of an afternoon tea party might make you think of a little kids tea party (which is also amazing) this post is about hosting a tea party fit for a queen! Ever since living in London, the afternoon tea has become one of the most treasured events in our family. The afternoon tea (or high tea or English tea) is such a fun, luxurious way to celebrate. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, a birthday, Easter or just making a normal day a special day, this post will help you plan the perfect day!
This post is all about throwing the best afternoon tea!
The Tea
When it comes to teas, the options are practically endless! There is green tea, fruit teas, herbal, chai, earl grey, chamomile, black tea and more. Most cultures or regions have their favorite tea, but the favorite of most English afternoon teas in the English Breakfast Tea! And it’s my favorite as well.
For your tea party I suggest always having options and asking guests what they prefer, but I would make sure to have at least one pot of a black English Breakfast Tea. Of the brands you can find in America, Twinings and Tetley are my favorites.
Once you’ve brewed the hot tea, be sure to set the table with milk and sugar as well. The perfect English tea (in my opinion) has a little bit of both, but everyone has their preference. Before living in London I had never had milk and sugar in my tea (I was always a lemon and honey girl). But once you have an English tea, its hard to go back! As the party commences, be sure to get everyone a nice “cuppa” and allow them to fix it up to their liking.
The Scones
When it comes to the scones there are three important components: the scone itself, the jam, and the clotted cream. There is even some debate among the British about which comes first, the jam or the cream.
But English scones are the real heroes and most important part of this triumvirate. Even a delicious jam and cream will not fix a dry scone. American scones really can’t be compared to these light, fluffy delights. While there are so many recipes you can find, by far my favorite has been this English Style Scone recipe from Fifteen Spatulas. It is easy to make and absolutely delicious.
When it comes to the jam, a simple homemade strawberry jam is my absolute favorite. Fifteen Scones has a recipe that goes perfect with their scones, this strawberry jam. But essentially it is as simple as bringing fresh strawberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar to a boil and them simmer until the berries break down. Then be sure to allow to the jam to cool in the fridge for the perfect English scone accompaniment.
The component that may not be as familiar to most non-English audiences is the clotted cream. This also happens to be my favorite part of scones. For those who don’t know what it is, clotted cream is thick cream made from heating full cream milk and then cooling it. The cream rises to the surface and creates this absolutely delicious spread. It is possible to make at home, but I’ve found it to be extremely time consuming and worth buying at the store. But in the states, even this can be a challenge, as many stores don’t carry it. I’ve had luck finding a jar at Whole Foods, World Market or even Amazon.
Once you have all three scone components you are good to go!
The Sandwiches
Tea sandwiches are such an important part of the afternoon tea party. They are the main savory component and add some delicious hardiness to the experience. The key to the perfect tea sandwich is that they fall into the finger sandwich category and are easy to handle and not too messy. I also love to have a variety, making sure there is something for everyone.
Here is a post with all of my favorite Afternoon Tea Sandwiches! These recipes range from traditional to more American favorites.
The Sweets
Next up, and the most important component for the person with the sweet tooth in your life, the tea cakes and sweets! This part of the afternoon tea allows for some of the most unique and varying options. These sweets can range from macarons, petit gateaux, chocolate mousse or truly almost any bite size (or small) sweet treat.
If you are a baking wizard and you’re eager to make it all yourself, by all means! But since the other food is homemade, I usually opt to buy an assortment from a store for my sweets. I am lucky to have a favorite bakery in Charlotte called Amelie’s where I usually get several macaron flavors, some chocolate mousse cups, salted caramel brownies and more.
But my favorite hack is Trader Joe’s! In their frozen section they usually have a box that has an assortment of French macarons. I also am a sucker for their chocolate mini sheet cake, all you have to do it cut it in small squares. In the frozen section they also have one that is a variety of small cakes. Any or all of these make wonderful options for the sweets tier.
Whatever you decide, I would recommend trying to have one of each sweet for each guest so no one misses out!
The Setup
Now that we have all of the food and drink components squared away, we have arrived at how to set the table for your afternoon tea party!
For the tea set, the most luxurious option is obviously some fine china. I am lucky to have access to my mother and grandmothers china, but it is definitely not necessary! Over the years I have found that second-hand stores like GoodWill or Salvation Army usually have a selection of tea cups, saucers, plates and more. If you’re looking for more new options, Home Goods has had an awesome selection of tea cups and teapots as well. I find that mixing and matching makes for a fun, whimsical aesthetic.
When it comes to serving the food, the traditional (and my favorite way) is a three-tiered serving stand. By using a three-tiered stand you are able to put each the sweets, sandwiches, and scones on their own layer. It also makes for a beautiful way to save space on the table. When I build mine, I do tea sandwiches on the bottom, scones in the middle and sweets on the top. A stand like this one allows you to use your own plates. Or you can opt for one that has the trays built in this this one. But ultimately, if you don’t want to use one of these, any serving dishes will suffice!
It’s also always a nice touch to add fresh flowers to your table! And don’t forget to take sure everyone has their silverware and napkins. Don’t be afraid to be playful and add whimsy to your table!
The Entertainment
If you’re lucky, the best entertainment during your afternoon tea will be good conversation with your friends. But I also find that to elevate a party, I usually pick either music or a show to have on in the background.
If you’re having your tea in an outdoor setting, I would suggest an instrumental playlist with some fun and light classical music. This is a bougie affair after all, and the music should set that scene. But my absolute favorite source of entertainment during my afternoon tea parties is putting on my favorite English or Regency show or movie. There is something about having that sort of opulence on in the background that lends itself to perfect vibes. Some of my favorites show options are Downton Abbey or Bridgerton. Or if you prefer movies, I would suggest Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre. If you’re looking for more possibilities, check out my list of the Best Romantic Period Pieces.
Enjoy your afternoon tea party!
No matter what you choose for food, entertainment, or table setting, your afternoon tea party is sure to be a fun time for all. Make sure that you pour yourself the perfect cuppa tea and indulge to your hearts content!
This post was all about tips for throwing a charming afternoon tea!
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