If you are like me, you will like hosting events like teas (or you have been shanghaied into it by a relative or friend). As you can imagine, there is quite a bit of etiquette that goes with hosting a tea. I am going to just jump straight into!
1) Try to only offer two different teas, three at most. People most likely will not be able to cleanse their palate, and no one wants to have black, rooibos, herbal and oolong all in their mouth at once. My personal preference? I try to pick a straight black tea, a flavoured black tea, and an herbal tea. I also try to have similar flavours in the black and herbal tea.
2) You will have to ask someone to pour- this is an honour. It is considered an honour to be asked to pour the tea, so consider asking your close friends or someone that has really been there for you lately.
3) Plan your finger foods and dainties to match the teas you have! If you have a lemon flavoured tea, a lemon tart would be a lovely touch. I love shortbread. More than most people. I particularly love it because it works well with so many different teas! I personally don’t usually have finger sandwiches, I find the meat difficult to pair with tea. Let me know if you have tips on that topic!
4) I like to have name cards- it is a nice touch that doesn’t take terribly long to print up, cut, and fold. It shows that you put thought into your guests, and if you are going to the trouble of hosting a tea, you can make name cards.
Have you hosted a tea? Do you have any traditions? Any suggestions?
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
