An afternoon tea is a lovely way to get together with friends or family. It can also provide everything needed for a special celebration. No matter what the occasion, consider these tips for how to put on the perfect afternoon tea.
Set-Up
To make the location look special, cover the table with a pretty tablecloth, perhaps with a vase of flowers at the centre. For each guest, you will need a cup and saucer, a small plate, a knife, a fork, a teaspoon, and a napkin. Other equipment includes sugar bowls, teapots, jugs, and cake stands.
In the summer, it can be lovely to enjoy the afternoon tea outdoors, while in the winter embrace the dark afternoons with candles and fairy lights.
Food
Your afternoon tea should include a variety of sandwiches. You will probably have your own preferences, but ideas can include smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg mayonnaise and cress, and ham and chutney.
You will also want lots of sweet treats like a variety of cakes, macaroons and scones served with clotted cream and preserves.
It can be fun to make some or all of these yourself. But it may be more convenient to purchase them. To get everything needed for the perfect afternoon treat, consider an afternoon tea box delivery. Find out what is available from an afternoon tea box delivery specialist like www.afternoonteabox.com.
Arrange the food in tiers, with a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes, and a tier of scones with little pots of cream and preserves on the side.
Tea
You should have a selection of teas such as English breakfast, Earl Grey, Assam black tea, and Darjeeling. You could also have some caffeine-free options and herbal teas such as chamomile and mint.
Not everyone will drink tea, so offer coffee as well. The drinks do not have to be hot and some may like a cold drink like cloudy lemonade or elderflower cordial. On special occasions, it has become the custom to drink sparkling wine or champagne with your afternoon tea.