Lot of recipes for your Afternoon 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.”

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

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?

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.

 

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.
 

Afternoon Tea Menu and Recipes
 

Wonderful Scones or Date Drop Scones

Lemon Curd

Devonshire Cream

Fresh Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate

Putting on the Ritz Egg Salad Sandwich

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches or Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches
 

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.