Tea Travels™
By Ellen Easton ©2007-2012 - All Rights Reserved

Ellen Easton is an afternoon tea authority, author, columnist, designer, lecturer, and consultant to leading hotels whose clients have included The Plaza, The Stanhope, Waldorf-Astoria, and Lady Mendl’s Tea Room, plus restaurants, corporations, special event, educational, and retail institutions specializing in corporate training, afternoon tea, and the design of related products, believing that TEA IS THE LUXURY EVERYONE CAN AFFORD!
 

Ellen Easton's Columns and Recipes:

Tea Menus:

Afternoon Tea a la Francaise
Check out this French inspired tea menu.

Afternoon Tea From The Garden
A traditional afternoon tea menu was not created with the dietary restrictions one faces in today's modern world. To be mindful of vegetarians, as well as those watching high cholesterol, blood sugars, and heart healthy choices, creating a healthy afternoon tea menu can be a challenge.

Autumn Afternoon Tea
Whether your afternoon tea is prepared from scratch, store bought items, or a combination of the two, the key to any good party is a balanced menu. The occasion need not be an expensive endeavor, provided all items are served fresh and presented in a style pleasing to the eye, your guests are certain to have a great time. Do not be a tea snob, but regardless if the teas served are loose-leaf or from a tea bag, all tea must be decanted before pouring.


 

Buffet Tea for Easy Entertaining
It is very simple to have a buffet tea a home. A buffet tea needn’t be expensive, nor time consuming to prepare. There are many marvelous sources available by mail order and in your local supermarkets. All it takes for one to create a beautiful buffet tea party is imagination and a good guest list. Check out Ellen hints and tips for the perfect buffet tea.

 

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Menu
Mother's Day should be everyday. Celebrating the women who raise children is not limited to just the women who give birth. Any woman who takes the time to nurture and oversee the well being and development of another, often sacrificing their own needs and dreams, deserves distinctive recognition. We would not be who we are without these wonderful people.

Rose Garden Tea with the Queen
Maintaining a tradition that began in 1860 with Queen Victoria, every year Queen Elizabeth II opens the private gardens at Buckingham Palace to host three afternoon tea parties, each attended by 8,000 guests respectively.

Springtime Tea Menu
A springtime tea is the perfect time of year to embrace the luxuries of fashion. Whether your party is an indoor formal affair or an outdoor garden celebration. It is a great excuse to put on your favorite dress, pearls, and gloves with the added indulgence of a fabulous new hat. Invite your friends and loved ones for a festive gathering.
 

Summer Rose Tea
According to the folklore of tea, once upon a time a lady was not allowed to socialize unescorted except in her rose garden. It was here women met, unrestricted by social rules of etiquette, to speak freely amongst the roses. Throughout Europe, during the 1800s, the theme of the rose continued to weave a thread, as afternoon tea flourished in both the public gardens and tearooms.

 

Victorian Tea
A delicious and beautiful menu for an outstanding Victorian Tea.

Tea Salons:

Afternoon Tea Renaissance - The Plaza's Palm Court
Surrounded by the European splendor of the Palm Court courtyard, the afternoon tea caters to the different tastes of its sophisticated clientele. A blend of the best tea - time traditions with new and innovative ideas, creates a balance and flavorful combination to appeal to all guests. 

 

Bergdorf-Goodman Prêt-A-Portea - Afternoon Tea for the Fashionista
Cafe BG in Bergdorf-Goodman, New York City's epitome emporium of chic and The Berkeley of London have combined forces to present the ultimate three-course afternoon tea. When the craftsmanship of couture meets the artistry of haute cuisine the results are fashion week fabulous.
 

Lady Mendl's Tea Salon
An absolutely charming establishment tucked away inside New York City's Inn at Irving Place.  Located in the heart of the Gramercy Park historical district, when one ascends the front staircase, one enters a splendid 1800s townhouse replicating a world gone by.

Tea Information:

A Tea Tasting
For your own enjoyment, a special event, a theme party, business venture or classroom education, having a tea tasting is an easy and fun way to explore the vast variety of offerings available in the world of tea.
 

Etiquette Faux Pas and Other Misconceptions About Afternoon Tea
Due to the new popularity of Afternoon Tea, many people have jumped on the bandwagon, including hotels, caterers, party planners, and protocol and etiquette “experts.”  While their enthusiasm is well intended, unfortunately a great deal of misinformation is being perpetuated by these “experts.”

How To Brew Perfect Tea
Learn how to brew a perfect pot of tea. Article excerpted from Tea Travels... For the Holidays, Anyone Can Make Perfect Tea, by Ellen Easton.
 

Invitation to Afternoon Tea
The invitation has just arrived in the mail.  What do you do next? When one is invited to an afternoon tea, or any event for that matter, there are protocols that apply and should be followed.


 

Metropolitan Museum of Art's Treasure Trove of Tea
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, nestled in the heart of New York City's Central Park's upper East Side is a treasure trove for any tea lover. As there are literally over eighty-thousand tea related objects of decorative art, silver, porcelain, furniture, sculpture, paintings, and photography, one could literally spend an entire day or more exploring the artistic wonders that the museum has to offer.

Retro Dinner Parties
1959 Back Yard Tented Summer Dinner Dance for 50 People
Early 1960s Sit Down Christmas Dinner for 20 People
 

Tea and Health: Exploring Herbal Teas
For thousands of years, much has been written and said about the health benefits of tea. It is important to consider the source of information before embracing it. It is equally important never to begin any new dietary or supplementary regime without consulting with your personal physician.

Tea Time F.A.Q.
Ellen Easton answers questions asked by readers of her book and this web site.

The Afternoon Tea Gowns
La Belle Epoque,1880-1914,”the beautiful era”, was a gilded age, bringing with it great opulence coinciding with the demise of the old fashioned aristocracy and traditional ways. Dominated by a society indulging in the refinements of luxurious elegance, the era was defined by women unburdened with financial constraints who were able to gratify themselves with extravagant home entertaining and fin-de-siecle esthetics.

The Gift of Good Manners
The holiday season is a time for celebration and gift giving.  To insure a good time is had by all, there can be no better gift than the gift of good manners™.  No child is too young begin the learning process of civility and no adult is too old to refresh one's social skills. Practicing a few simple rules, in advance, will guarantee that the guests as well as the hosts will feel comfortable and relaxed at the holiday table. Understanding the reason why a rule is, in fact, a rule can be helpful when teaching a young child.  As early as possible engage young children to participate in the process.   Children will learn by watching and doing! Take the time to set the table correctly. Designate one day a week for each child to set the table. Have a private tea party to make learning not only educational but fun.
 

Understanding Tea Time Service
Afternoon Tea is one of the most special times of the day. An occasion one looks forward to with great anticipation and high expectations for a perfect experience. But have you ever considered what your perfect experience entails to produce?
 

What is a Tea or Etiquette Consultant?
Just because a person or institution has a high profile, TV presence, books with pretty pictures, attends trade shows, or an attractive advertising campaign does not necessarily mean they are providing accurate information or are the best teachers. Before signing on for an expensive program, do your homework, consider the source and question the background and credentials from whence the information is provided.

Yerba Mate
Is it a tea or is it an infusion? The answer is Yerba Mate can be both. Yerba Mate can be a tea provided that the Yerba Mate leaves are blended with tea leaves. Revered for centuries by the native peoples of the Guarani tribe for its medicinal qualities, of late scientists and consumers alike are rediscovering the wealth of health benefits associated with Yerba Mate.

Ellen Easton's recipes:

Beverages:

Apple Tea Toddy

Ellen's Holiday Tea Blend

Hot Chocolate

How To Brew Perfect Tea
Learn how to brew a perfect pot of tea. Article excerpted from Tea Travels ... For the Holidays, Anyone Can Make Perfect Tea, by Ellen Easton.

Iced Tea Punch

Maple Tea

Cakes & Tea Breads:

20-Layer Crepe Cake

Almond Honey Pound Cake

Chocolate Icebox Cake

Cinnamon-Vanilla Tea Cake with Spiced Crumb Topping

Financier Almond Cake

Gingerbread Tea Loaf

Pumpkin Tea Cake

Reva's Rose Petit Four Cake

Quatre-Quarts Pound Cakes

Spring Bonnet Petit Fours
 

Tea Infused Eggs (Marbleized Eggs)

Tea-Infused Orange Cream Pudding

 

Apple Biscuit Scones

Ellen's Plain Scones

Holiday Butterscotch-Ginger Tea Scones

Lavender Scones

Orange Cranberry Scones

Plaza Scones - Pastry Chef Jasmina Bojic's Scones

Rose Petal Drop Scones

Tea Sandwiches:

Apple Boursin Cheese Open Face Finger Sandwiches

Decorated Easter Egg Tea Sandwiches

Tea Sandwich Spreads (Orange Marmalade Spread & Fig Spread)

Turkey-Cranberry Sliders