What are the elements for hosting a tea party?

By / Food / August 22nd, 2013 / 3

There’s something just so fun and elegant about a tea party, whether or not you like to drink tea. In fact, tea parties have now expanded to the point where tea, itself, is barely necessary. You could offer punch, herbed water, even Italian sodas. Despite those additions, personally, I still think a tea party needs tea.

The first step in organizing a tea party, once you’ve established who will be invited, the date and the time, is to figure out how the tea will be handled. One fun idea is to buy a supply of individually wrapped tea bags of varying flavours. Go for a larger supply of the more popular flavours, like Orange Pekoe and Earl Grey. Back that up with some Moroccan Mint and any other favourite of yours. Follow those black teas with some herbal selections. Then all you need is a continuous supply of hot water. Here’s an important point: even though I’m recommending you use individual tea packets, those still need to be filled with loose leaf tea. Don’t rely on a box of Tetley tea. That’s fine for your everyday cup, but not for a tea party. Loose leaf will give you a truer and more pronounced flavour. If individually packaged loose tea is hard to find, you have a few options that will solve the problem. Most tea purveyors sell fill-it-yourself tea bags. Take the bags home, fill them with your tea of choice, attach a pretty label and you’re good to go. Failing that, buy or borrow a few teapots. Brew two or three different teas, one for each teapot, and label appropriately.

The next most important part of the tea party is preparing the teapot or tea cups (if you’re opting for individually wrapped teas). Warming the pot and cups will ensure that the tea stays at the perfect temperature longer. Simply pour boiling water into the teapot or cups, let it sit for 5 minutes or so, then pour it out. Immediately pour the tea into the teapot or the tea cups. Enjoy!

Remember, loose leaf lasts much longer than the typical packaged teas. You can pour hot water over the loose leaf three or four times than regular tea bags before it begins to lose its flavour.

Tea parties are known for snacks — cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, scones and cookies. How about trying something new and different this time? How about Goat Cheese and Fig on Cinnamon Bread, Crumpets and Cupcakes?

Goat Cheese and Fig on Cinnamon Bread

What are the elements for hosting a tea party?

(Adapted from Tea & Crumpets by Margaret M. Johnson)

Ingredients

  • 10 oz dried figs, stemmed and chopped
  • 1-3/4 cups water
  • 3 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 12 slices cinnamon bread
  • 8 oz plain goat cheese, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp milk

Instructions

  1. For the Spread
  2. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine figs, 1-1/2 cups water and sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Most of the liquid should have evaporated, and the figs should be tender.
  3. Transfer mixture to a food processor, add lemon juice and process until smooth. Add the remaining water if necessary. Transfer spread to a bowl.
  4. Assembly
  5. Preheat broiler.
  6. Using a 2-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out rounds from the cinnamon bread. Arrange bread on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler until lightly browned.
  7. In a small bowl, stir together goat cheese and milk until smooth. Spread or pipe cheese mixture onto toasted rounds. Top with a spoonful of the fig spread.
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Crumpets

What are the elements for hosting a tea party?

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water (approx. 100°F)
  • 1 cup lukewarm milk (approx. 100°F)
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter
  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Stir dry ingredients together until well blended.
  2. Add water, milk and melted butter to dry ingredients. Stir well until batter comes together. Leave in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
  3. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. If you’re using crumpet or egg rings, grease them well. Rings can be made from tuna cans that have had tops and bottoms removed. Otherwise, simply spoon batter into rounds in the pan.
  4. Cook for at least 10 minutes on one side. Bubbles should form and pop on the surface as the crumpets cook. Commercially-made crumpets are not flipped. They’re allowed to cook on one side until the top has dried. If you’d like some colour on top, then flip the crumpets over and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
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Ginger Cupcakes

What are the elements for hosting a tea party?

Ingredients

  • 2/3 c Molasses
  • 1/2 c Sugar
  • 1/2 c Shortening
  • 1 tsp Ginger
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Baking soda
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 2 c Sifted cake flour
  • 1 c Buttermilk
  • 2 Eggs, beaten

Instructions

  1. Heat first 5 ingredients to boiling, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Sift baking powder, baking soda and flour together and add alternately with milk and eggs, beating thoroughly after each addition. Pour into greased muffin pans and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Makes 16 cupcakes.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosemary Mantini has always loved words. When she isn't working as the Associate Editor at Tidings Magazine, she's helping others achieve their writing dreams, and sometimes she even relaxes with a good book and a glass of wine.

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