subject: How To: Throw A Tea Party [print this page] If you can't find reason enough to throw a proper party and are looking for an afternoon social occasion other than lunch, why not try a tea-party?
You could just invite friends round for tea but if you are looking for something a little more extravagant, here are some tips.
Think about when you want to host it, 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 traditionally be between 10am and 4pm otherwise you are pretty much having people for breakfast or dinner!
Think about the size of group you are inviting, if you want an intimate atmosphere, keep to around 8 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 don't always have to hold the party in your house, 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 be unconventional, just figure out how you will 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.
The actual tea is obviously an important part of the party but try and avoid brewing a single pot of unusual tea, not everyone enjoys mint herbal ginseng blend. Simple tea is the safest option but you can always brew an alternative pot. 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 are important too.
