A simple tea party with your friends doesn't require strict rules of etiquette, but it certainly doesn't hurt to know how to serve sugar, milk, and other tea accompaniments. for larger events, learn how to arrange a more formal placement, or skip straight to the food section, if you want to host a buffet-style event where guests can pick up their own food and drinks.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Arrangements for Formal Occasions
Step 1. Decide what kind of tea you are having
Most people who host a tea party or "tea party" think of an afternoon event that takes place between lunch and dinner and provides a small snack, such as a sandwich or scones. The event could be a buffet style that requires no seating arrangement at all, or it might be a seated event with few tables and cutlery because it doesn't provide a full meal. If you are hosting a formal evening, you will need other equipment depending on the food you are serving. Whatever the occasion, make sure you read the steps below to determine what's needed for your tea party.
Dinners are usually known as "high tea," although the term is often misused to refer to a type of tea
Step 2. Cover the large table with an attractive tablecloth
For a seated tea party, the table should be large enough for all guests to sit down at once. For all tea drinking parties, the food must fit in the center of the table. If you're serving a full meal in the evening, commonly referred to as "high tea" instead of an afternoon tea party, you only need room for one dish at a time.
Step 3. Place the plate in the center of the dining area of the table
Unless you are serving a full meal of more than one dish, each guest will be provided with only one plate. Ideally, lunch plates are 23-24cm in diameter, but you can use any diameter plate if needed.
Step 4. Fold linen napkins, or table napkins, for each guest
Fold each napkin into a rectangle, square, or triangle, then place it on the left side of the plate with the crease opening on the right. However, if you need to save space, you can place each napkin in the center on a plate.
Step 5. Arrange the tableware
You only need to provide one or two cutlery for each guest, depending on what food is being served. At a minimum, place a small spoon to the right of the plate to stir the tea. If you're serving sticky cakes or food that can fall apart, also provide a small fork to the left of the plate, and one or more knives between the plate and spoon, with the sharp side facing the plate.
- Provide a steak knife when serving meat.
- Provide a butter knife for each guest when serving jam or other spreads, placing it to the right of the steak knife if you have one. Remember that each spread should be served with its own spoon.
- When serving a full dinner with several dishes, provide the appropriate utensils for each dish, arranging so that guests start with the cutlery furthest from the plate, and end with the closest.
Step 6. Arrange the teacups and placemats
Each guest must have one cup on the saucer. Place each cup to the right of the spoon in each dining area.
Step 7. Put down a small trash bowl if you have one
The trash bowl is usually the smallest bowl, placed on the left, on a napkin or fork. Guests put used tea leaves and lemon wedges in the trash bowl.
Since the trash bowl is one of the most specialized components of serving tea, only the most formal of guests will be surprised if you don't have one
Step 8. Place additional glasses if needed
Have a glass of water for each guest above the knife, or under the teacup if there is no knife. When serving additional refreshments such as lemonade or champagne, choose an additional glass to place to the right of the glass of water.
Step 9. Consider an additional dessert plate
Provide a dessert plate if serving a special dessert, such as a birthday cake. Place it on the main plate and also provide a suitable fork and/or spoon, placing it horizontally between the two plates.
A dessert plate is not necessary for a small sweet snack that can be enjoyed without a plate
Part 2 of 2: Making Food
Step 1. Choose a suitable table to put the table on
The table should be large enough to serve tea, cutlery, and food. If there's not enough table for each guest, get rid of the chairs and have a buffet-style tea party with guests taking their own food instead of being served at each other's table. This style is less formal than a tea party held with all guests seated, and is best suited for afternoon tea rather than dinner.
Position the buffet-style table: if you're concerned about limited space, place the table against the wall. If there is enough room, you can put a table so that guests can take food from both sides of the table at once
Step 2. Choose tablecloths and linen napkins, or fine dining napkins
Using a clean and attractive tablecloth will make the event more elegant. The traditional choice for tablecloth color is white, but you can use a tablecloth in any color or pattern. For a formal tea party, choose a napkin that matches the tablecloth.
Step 3. Prepare a tea dish at one end of the table
Brew a variety of teas for your guests, at least caffeinated black teas and decaffeinated herbal teas. Each tea should be served in its own teapot, preferably when the tea leaves have been removed or with a strainer so that guests don't get tea leaves in their cups. You don't need to use a matching serving dish or silver tray if you don't have one, but don't forget to stock up on all the essential tea additions:
- Creamer, or a small teapot filled with milk
- A bowl of sugar cubes and sugar tongs, or granulated sugar and a small spoon
- One pot of hot water for guests who want to dilute their tea
- Slices of lemon to put in the tea, or thicker slices to squeeze into the tea
Step 4. Arrange additional coffee, hot chocolate, or tea trays at the end of the table
Unless your guests are few, you can put two places for guests to take their own hot drinks. Coffee or hot chocolate will be appreciated by some guests who don't like tea, but if you know your guests like to drink tea, just provide a selection of teas.
Keep all necessary tea additions at both ends of the table. When serving coffee, only sugar and cream are needed to complete the coffee
Step 5. Provide a small plate, teacup, and sugar
If you're having a sit-down tea party, check out the formal event settings section. For a buffet-style party, arrange everything neatly at both ends of the table, or at one end if space is limited. You will need a minimum of one small placemat, one cup and one small spoon for each guest. It's also good to provide more equipment to anticipate accidents, misplaced dishes, or the number of guests is more than expected.
If you don't have enough teacups, you can borrow from neighbors or have a "bring your own cup of tea or coffee" party. Many tea and coffee drinkers have their favorite cups at home, but prepare a few more cups for guests who don't bring their own
Step 6. Remember that additional cutlery may be required according to the food being served
When serving food that you can't eat with your hands, keep a fork or knife next to other utensils. Soups require small bowls and soup spoons, puddings and other soft desserts require smaller spoons. The serving bowls containing jam, cream, or additions to toast or scones must come with their own serving spoons.
If you're not sure what kind of food to serve, see the suggestions below. Usually afternoon tea parties do not serve food that requires cutlery. This makes it easy for guests to pick up their own food from the table, and to walk around and talk with a plate of food
Step 7. Arrange sweet and savory foods in the center of the table
Small sandwiches with no edges are the most common savory dish served at afternoon tea parties, but deviled eggs are also common in areas such as South America. Provide at least one share or a large plate of the same or a variety of small savory foods. In another area of the table, place a tray or plate filled with sweets such as English-style biscuits (pastries), small cakes, and/or scones.
If using a three-tier cake rack is not a good idea, the traditional arrangement is scones on the top level, savory sandwiches and snacks on the second level, and sweets on the bottom
Step 8. Provide cold drinks at an additional table, or the main table if there is no additional table
If you have an additional table, place it far enough from the main table so that guests can reach food without blocking guests from reaching other tables. The extra table is great for serving cold drinks like lemonade or iced tea. Alcohol is usually not served during teatime, but for festive occasions champagne, white wine, sherry, or port may be served.
The snack tray can also be placed on an additional table if desired
Step 9. Decorate the table (optional)
Decorations are usually bright and festive for the evening, but you can use any decoration you want. Flowers are a common decoration, but avoid overly scented flowers that can irritate or even trigger allergies. Just scatter rose petals or place unscented or delicately scented flowers in a small vase.
Make sure your decorations don't block access to pick up food or fill the table. Decorate after and put food and drink on the table so you can adjust the space on the table
Step 10. Provide seating elsewhere (optional)
Most afternoon tea events serve snacks such as scones, sandwiches, and biscuits. Because it is easy to eat standing or sitting away from the table, dining tables and chairs for each guest are not required. If you have room for each guest to sit, you can put a chair or sofa in the living room or in the garden.
One option for a large tea party is to provide a small cafe table with a few chairs at each table. Cover each table with a suitable tablecloth if possible
Tips
- In addition to the teapot, you can use a Russian-style samovar (teapot) to serve tea. Use a tall, slim glass instead of a teacup for this Russian style, but make sure the glass is heat-resistant.
- Using old-fashioned lacy napkins can make a tea party even more elegant. You can find real hand embroidered napkins at antique stores or online auctions under the "antique linens" category.
- Foods suitable for an afternoon tea party include sandwiches, cookies or biscuits, cupcakes, brandy snaps, pavlovas, lamingtons, tarts, etc.
