Tea Time

Brides and their friends everywhere are saying yes as the traditional afternoon tea is gaining steam as a popular bridal shower theme. If you’re hosting a...See more » Brides and their friends everywhere are saying yes as the traditional afternoon tea is gaining steam as a popular bridal shower theme. If you’re hosting a bridal shower, a High Tea gives you ample inspiration. Just think of a table covered in lovely white lace, adorned with your finest china and full of dainty tea sandwiches, scones and sweets. And the slow sipping of cups of tea provides a great atmosphere for conversation and gift-opening. Sure, shower teas are being held at plush hotel tea rooms around the country. Even the small and cozy inn-like tea houses are booked with bridal shower parties on the weekends. But one of the best parts about a bridal shower tea is that it’s easy to do yourself at a minimal expense. Why serve a full course meal at a shower when a tea is less expensive and so much fun to prepare and enjoy? With a little attention to menu and décor, you can transport the bride and your guests to a British haven in your own home. So break out that china that always sits in the cabinet and let’s put the kettle on… it’s time for a bridal shower tea. First, though, we have to pay a little bit of respect to the Victorians, who made high tea fashionable. The seventh Duchess of Bedford is credited with inventing the afternoon tea, and the things we associate with afternoon tea, from the scones and little sandwiches to the tea blends themselves, are from Victorian times. Please come to a tea: The traditional invitation to a tea is a simple white or cream card, but if you want a more decorative invitation look for floral borders, especially with roses, or borders with pictures of teacups. For a really simple invitation, use decorative handwriting on a white doily and stuff it into a pink envelope. Another idea: put a tea bag in with the invitation so the guest can get into the spirit of the upcoming tea party. Call the tea for anytime between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.—the traditional time for high tea. The earlier the tea, the lighter the menu—the later, the more meal-like. Table Talk: If you have fine china, this is the perfect time to use it, especially if it’s English bone china. A matching set of teacups is fine, but for a really charming look use mismatched teacups. An array of delicate cups with cottage roses, green leaves and dainty buds looks great on the serving table and lends a vintage feel. Sources for a cup collection: family members, friends, antique shops, garage sales. A high tea is also a time to use any silver serving pieces you might have; a three-tiered silver serving tray is perfect to display the teatime goodies. Use a white lace or just plain white tablecloth on the table, and flowers as a centerpiece. Roses or daisies are good choices. If you want to go with paper goods for the shower, you can still have a beautiful table. Just think pretty, and stick with whites and pinks or floral patterns. Lit candles on the table and classical music in the background can add ambience. Reading tea leaves: The tea itself, of course, is an essential component of the tea shower. You can use whatever blends you like, there are no rules. Popular teas to serve include Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Darjeeling and Orange Pekoe. You can offer decaffeinated fruity teas or herbal teas such as chamomile and Red Zinger as well. If the shower will be held on a hot summer day, you can choose to serve a selection of iced teas. Here’s the prescription for making perfect tea: First, pour hot water into your teapot to warm it, then pour it out and add a teaspoon of loose tea for each cup of tea desired. Add one extra teaspoonful for the pot. If you’re using teabags, use one bag less than the total number of cups you want to make. Bring a kettle full of cold water to a boil, and as soon as it boils, remove from heat to prevent overboiling. Pour boiling water into the teapot and let brew for five minutes. Pour over a tea strainer into cups, or take out tea bags if using them and serve. Just My Cup of Tea: To serve the tea, first put milk (the English call it cream although it’s actually milk) in the cup, then sugar cubesSee less »