Sometimes you can't justify throwing a full blown party and sometimes people have plans in the evening so if you are looking for a mid afternoon social occasion other than lunch, a tea-party can be the best option.
Obviously you could just invite your friends around and brew some tea but if you want to go the extra mile why not consider these tips;
Choose a day, obviously, then depending on the time of year it might be better to host the party at different times of the day, for example at Christmas time people will want to catch up after time apart and might spend all evening chatting away, in this case get some finger foods at the ready. A tea party would usually take place between 10am and 4pm otherwise you are technically having people for breakfast or dinner!
Consider the size of group you want, around 8 people maintains an intimate atmosphere but any more than that any you will need to consider larger quantities of food and possibly a buffet. A large group almost defeats the object of a tea party.
You could choose to hold the party in your house but you could easily hold it in the garden or on a terrace in the summer, alternatively in a park or on a beach if you want to get really creative, just figure out how you are going to heat the tea.
Although it might be nice to have a snack while drinking tea, don't forget you're not organising a luncheon, so try to keep it finger food. Pastries and scones compliment tea nicely; cakes and deserts are even nicer but can cost more and need to be kept cool.
Obviously the tea itself is an important part of the party but try and avoid brewing one single pot of unusual tea, not everyone enjoys a mint herbal ginseng blend. Simple tea is the safest option but it is nice to provide alternatives. The tea is best served out of a teapot so make sure you have one of these and some nice cups and saucers to match. A bowl of sugar and jug of milk could be handy too.
The best cups and saucers to take are delicate ceramic rather than pointless cold cups or paper cups.
Posted under green tea
