Planning a Tea Party

A Perfect Event for So Many Occasions

We often hear of a tea for a bridal or baby shower. But how about hosting one for a little girl's birthday party, or a welcome to the neighborhood event? On a much smaller scale, there's nothing as charming as a cozy tea with your best friend just to catch up on things.

Customarily, tea parties are held in the afternoon. The British origins of the meal set tea time as a late afternoon snack to dampen workers' appetites until they went home to their supper. However, you can set the time as appropriate, either far from a regular meal time, or as substitution for lunch or an early supper.

Let the occasion set the tone for your table. For example, you can set your table with your most elegant table linens, china, and silver for a formal bridal shower. For a children's party, you can use bright pastel placemats and colorful plates and saucers. Add miniature teddy bears, tussie mussies, and colorful candy pieces around all of the place settings as decorations. Let your invitations express the tone of your party, alerting your guests to the kind of mood they can anticipate.

Remember to play soft music in the background. The music should help to create the mood of your party, but not overwhelm conversation. Keep the volume just loud enough to be heard, and keep the music playing throughout your party.

When you plan your menu, begin by thinking about the teas you wish to serve. Are you comfortable brewing loose tea in large pots that you periodically freshen up with hot water? Then prepare at least two different varieties of tea, one that is caffeinated and the other a variety of decaffeinated or herbal. If you prefer not to brew pots of tea, then set out a variety of tea bags in a pretty basket or on a tray. Always be sure to have fresh pots of boiling water ready for your guests' next cups.

Finally, plan your menu. Tea parties give you a chance to explore all the flavors that make you and your guests happy. With just a few guests, you may want to offer two sandwich options and two sweets. With a larger party, you can offer more variety, including mini quiches in the mix. Since the food is bite size, half the fun is having a colorful assortment of different style sandwiches and other nibbles.

Here are some terrific savory recipes to begin planning the menu for your next tea party.

Bacon and Mushroom, Bite Size Quiche

Pecan Stuffed Dates

Bacon Wraps

Goat Cheese, Pepper and Bacon Tart