Afternoon Tea and High Tea Recipes


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Tea Sandwiches:

Scones:

Fruits:

Cakes:

Apple-Boursin Cheese Open Face Fingers

Carrot-Ginger Tea Sandwiches

Carrot-Raisin Tea Sandwiches

Chicken Curry Tea Sandwiches

Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Goat Cheese and Watercress Tea Sandwich

James Beard's Onion Sandwiches

Putting on the Ritz Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Radish-Poppy Seed Tea Sandwiches

Radish Sandwiches on Zucchini Basil Muffins

Smoked Salmon Sandwich on Pumpernickel

Spring Radish Tea Sandwiches

Walnut Tea Sandwiches

 


Cookies:

Bon Bon Cookies

Brown Butter Madeleines

Brown Butter Hazelnut Shortbread with Fleur de Sel

Cherry Bon Bon Cookies

Chocolate Mint Square

Classic Lace Cookies

High Tea Lemon Cookies

Lavender Tea Cookies

Lemon Bars

Lemon Melt Away Cookies

Lemon Sable Cookies (Lemon Butter Cookies)

Macaroon Cookies

Raspberry Linzer Bars

Russian Teacakes  


Apricot and White Chocolate Scones

Apple Biscuit Scones

Cherry Scones

Date Drop Scones

Frosted Cream Cheese Walnut Scones

Holiday Butterscotch-Ginger Tea Scones

Orange Poppy Seed Scones

Stephanie Inn Scones

Wonderful Scones
 


Quick Breads:

Banana Almond Bread

Banana Nut Bread

Best Blueberry Muffins

Orange Poppy Seed Bread

Mincemeat Nut Bread

Vanilla Bean Loaves

Zucchini Bread
 


Puddings:

Chocolate Pots de Creme

Lavender Creme Brulee

Tiramisu in a Martini Glass

 


Balsamic Strawberries

Cherries In Pinot Noir Wine

Chocolate Strawberries

Fresh Fruit Salad

Grapefruit Ambrosia

Honeydew Melon in Anisette

Simply Strawberries

Strawberries in Lemon-Lavender Syrup

Stuffed Roasted Strawberries
 


Jams, Butters, Spreads and Toppings:

Apple Butter

Candied Orange Rind

Caviar Egg Salad

Flavored Sweet Butters
(Compound Butters)

Homemade Mayonnaise

Lavender Jelly

Lemon Curd

Mock Devonshire Cream

Rose Petal Jam
 


Tea Time Beverages:

Andra's Sweet Tea

Chai Tea - Masala Chai - Spiced Milk Tea

Holiday Tea Blend

Juanita's Southern Ice Tea

Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Watermelon Aqua Fresca


Almond Honey Pound Cake

Banbury Tea Tarts

Boccone Dolce (Sweet Mouthful)

Chef's Favorite Lemon Tart

Cranberry Tartlet

Cream Puffs

English Trifle

Individual Vanilla Cheesecakes
with Lemon Curd

Meringue Cream Torte

Orange Poppy Seed Cake

Pumpkin Tea Cake

Red, White and Blue Trifle

Reva's Rose Petit Four Cake

Uncle Jimmy's Chocolate Pound Cake
 


Candies:

Chocolate Mint Truffles

Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Turtles

Honey Spice Truffles

Northwest Apple Candy (Aplets)

Oreo Truffle Balls

 

 


Tea Sandwiches
:

Allow 4 to 6 cut sandwich servings for each person.

Choose the best-quality white or wheat bread as possible. Never serve end slices. Freezing the bread before cutting and then spreading makes for easier handling.

Bread slices should be lightly buttered not matter what the filling. Unsalted butter should always be used. Butter should be at room temperature before spreading. Sandwiches will not become limp and soggy as readily if you spread the butter to the edge of the bread.

Cut the crusts off the bread with a long, sharp knife after the sandwiches are filled. This keeps everything neater.

Since tea sandwiches should be delicate, cut each sandwich in half on the diagonal or into thirds or fourths before serving. Decorative shapes can be made with cookie cutters.


Making Sandwiches Ahead of Time:

If you need to make tea sandwiches in advance and need to keep them from drying out, cover them loosely with a sheet of wax paper and then place a damp kitchen towel over the wax paper (never place a damp towel directly on top of the bread because the sandwiches will become soggy). Refrigerate. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator. Uncover sandwiches just before serving.

 


Tea Etiquette

In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel of a cup with no handle is to place one’s thumb at the six o'clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o'clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance.

Tea cups with a handle are held by placing one’s fingers to the front and back of the handle with one’s pinkie up again allows balance. Pinkie up does mean straight up in the air, but slightly tilted. It is not an affectation, but a graceful way to avoid spills. Never loop your fingers through the handle, nor grasp the vessel bowl with the palm of your hand.

Do not stir your tea, with your tea spoon, in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o'clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o'clock position two or three times. Never leave your tea spoon in your tea cup. When not in use, place your tea spoon on the right side of the tea saucer. Never wave or hold your tea cup in the air. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer. If you are at a buffet tea hold the tea saucer in your lap with your left hand and hold the tea cup in your right hand. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer and hold in your lap.  The only time a saucer is raised together with the teacup is when one is at a standing reception.

Milk is served with tea, not cream. Cream is too heavy and masks the taste of the tea. Although some pour their milk in the cup first, it is probably better to pour the milk in the tea after it is in the cup in order to get the correct amount.

When serving lemon with tea, lemon slices are preferable, not wedges. Either provide a small fork or lemon fork for your guests, or have the tea server can neatly place a slice in the tea  cup after the tea has been poured. Be sure never to add lemon with milk since the lemon's citric acid will cause the proteins in the milk to curdle.
 


Guidelines for Brewing the Perfect Pot of Tea

Your tea will only be as good as your water. It is best to use filtered or spring water only. If you must use tap water, take water during the day time from a tap and leave it out overnight. Once the water as come to the boil, take off the lid of the pot, turn fire down to low and continue to heat for 5 minutes; This gets rid of any unpleasant smells the water may have.

Wait until the water is near boiling, then pour a little into the teapot and swirl it around. This warms the pot so that it is at an optimum temperature for holding the tea. Empty the pot.

To the warmed teapot add one slightly rounded teaspoon of a tea per cup plus one teaspoon for the pot. Or use one tea bag in the pot for each cup.

When the water in the kettle has reached a rolling boil, pour it in the pot and allow the tea to steep for three to five minutes.

 

 


Check out the following wonderful articles on tea:

English/American Afternoon Tea Menu with Recipes - A full tea menu with recipes and photos

A 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.

Afternoon Tea Renaissance - The Plaza's Palm Court - Afternoon Tea, a famous tradition at The Plaza, blends an innovative menu with a formal tea service.  The Plaza Afternoon Tea incorporates 3 styles of service - Russian, French, and English- to provide guests a balance of service and flavorful cuisine.

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”.

Tea & 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 Sandwich Recipes
Also learn how to make tea sandwich ahead of time and  hints and tip on making ta sandwiches.

The Afternoon Tea Gowns of the La Belle Epoque (1880-1914), known as "The Beautiful Era."

Tea - Drink to your Health

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?

Check out more of Ellen Easton's articles and recipes called Tea Travels™.