Something New - How to Host An Afternoon Tea Party
Host A Tea Party for Family or Friends
How to Host a Tea Party
Afternoon Teas are a mini-sized assortment of sweet and savory sandwiches, tarts, snacks, and treats. Served with lots of hot tea or a light cocktail. Following are suggestions for menus and later some recipes for preparing the snacks. Feel free to personalize the party to fit your own choices. When it comes to food and taste its personal. There is no right or wrong with it if you enjoy it. So have a great time.
An afternoon Tea can be a semi-formal affair or just a cozy gathering shared among family and friends. It typically last 2 hours. It’s a time to socialize, reminisce or just chat together. If you wish to set it up as a routine gathering, I recommend hosting a tea party once a month. Each time the party rotates to a different friends House, so everyone can host a party. That way it only 3 times a year for each hostess in a party of four. It makes for a lovely time and precious memories and is so much more cost effective too.
Afternoon Tea Menu
These are suggestions for a party of 4.
Food Items (Sweet & Savory Assortment)
- 12 Tea Sandwiches/Mini Tarts. (4 each of 3 Different Types.)
- 8 Mini Scones (4 each of 2 Different Types).
- 8 Biscuits/cakes. (4 each of 2 Different Types.)
- 4-8 Chocolates/Truffles (1-2 Different Types of Chocolates)
- Pot of Earl Grey Tea
- Pot Caffeine Free Herb Tea
- Small Pot of Honey (1-2 oz)
- Small Pot (1-2 oz) each of Jam, Citrus/Fruit Curd
- Small dish of Flavored Butter, Whipped Cream Cheese, or Clotted Cream (1-2 oz each)
- Bowl of Sugar Cubes with Mini Tongs
- Small Pitcher of Cream
Optional
- 1 Type of Light Cocktail
Serving Sets
- 4 Teacups & Saucers
- 4 Teaspoons & 4 Dessert Forks
- 4 6-Inch Plates
- 1 2-3 Tier Serving Tray
- 1 Covered Serving Tray
- 2-3 Teapots
- Cocktail Glasses
- 4 Spreader Knives
Possible Menu Choices
Sandwich Choices
- Cucumber, Cream Cheese & Chives
- Roast Beef with lettuce and Horseradish Mayonnaise
- Chicken Salad with Dijon Mustard
- Smoked Salmon, Onion, Cream Cheese, and Tomato
- Brie, Walnut, and Cranberry
- Cheese, Scallions, Tomato and Balsamic Reduction
- Sweet Cream & Jam
Scone Choices
- Cheddar Cheese & Green Onion
- Spinach & Cheese
- Sausage & Herbs
- Lemon Poppyseed
- Blueberry
- Apple Cinnamon
- Cranberry Orange
Mini Tarts
- Apple Walnut
- Blueberry
- Custard
- Meat Pie
- Key Lime
- Tomato-Sausage
- Zucchini Quiche
Mini Cupcakes
- Red Velvet
- Lemon Poppyseed
- Chocolate
- Victoria Sponge
- Carrot Cake
- Gingerbread
- Date & Walnut
Cookies/Biscuits
- Gingerbread
- Chocolate
- Butter Shortbread
- Lemon & Lavender
- Tomato-Herb
- Mushroom & Onion
- Buttered Rosemary
Fruit Curds/Jams/Marmalades
- Lemon Curd
- Strawberry Jam
- Orange & Rose Marmalade
- Cranberry Orange Marmalade
- Hot Pepper Apple Jelly
- Blueberry Jam
- Garlic Onion Jam
Light Cocktails
- Bacon Mary
- White Wine Spritzer
- Red Sangria
- Fresh Orange Spritzer
TEA SANDWICHES
Sandwiches for Four
Delicate little triangle sandwiches served on a china tea tray. Bread crust is removed before serving. Featuring Strawberries & Cream, Cucumber & Cream Cheese , Roast Beef with horseradish mayonnaise with greens.
Tea Party Possibilities
Petite Tea Sandwiches
Strawberries & Cream
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
2 Slices of bread, Fresh strawberries mixed with sugar and clotted Cream. Sliced fresh berries with a touch of sugar. Spread the cream on both slices of the bread, layer with thinly sliced berries. trim the crust and cut diagonally into 4 pieces.
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
2 Slices of bread, chive cream cheese and English cucumber. Spread the cream cheese mixed with chives onto both slices of the bread. Layer one slice with very thinly sliced English cucumbers. Trim the crust and cut diagonally into 4 pieces.
Roast Beef & Mayonnaise
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
Roast Beef & Mayonnaise
2 Slices of bread, 3-4 oz of roast beef, greens, and horseradish mayonnaise. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise onto both slices of the bread. Layer one slice with very thinly sliced roast beef and then greens. Trim the crust and cut diagonally into 4 pieces.
Roast Beef & Mayonnaise
Little tibits for a light afternoon snack.
3 sandwiches make 12 tea sandwiches.
Served with pots of tea in china cups.