Daily Dish the Fork Lift blog
Traditional Tea Service Tips
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What time is it? Tea time, of course! Steeped in tradition, afternoon tea is as much about the experience and etiquette as the food and drink. Go classic with these tips and tricks or get creative with your own personal spin on it.
What time is it? Tea time, of course! Steeped in tradition, afternoon tea is as much about the experience and etiquette as the food and drink. Go classic with these tips and tricks or get creative with your own personal spin on it.
- Afternoon tea is typically served at 4 p.m., but can be served any time between 2–5 p.m.
- If you’re the host or hostess, send paper invitations.
- The host, hostess or designated pourer pours the tea for each guest.
- Fill teacup ¾ full to avoid spills and allow room for accompaniments.
- Common accompaniments include lemon slices, milk, sugar cubes and honey.
- Don’t put your pinky up when sipping!
- Set out a spread of snacks that guests can serve themselves.
- Food usually includes three types of treats: savories (finger sandwiches), scones and sweets.
- If presenting food on a tiered tray, savories go on the bottom, scones go in the middle and sweets go on top.
- Set the table with jam and cream for guests to enjoy with their scones.
- If you’re a guest, be sure to send a good, old-fashioned thank you note!
Ready to get started? Drop by your local Nugget Market for everything you need to throw the perfect tea party. With a wide variety of premium teas, snacks, dishes and recipes, you’re sure to find something that’s just your cup of tea!