One thing is certain when the weather is sunny and warm – I’m having breakfast, lunch and dinner outside. Alfresco eating takes me straight back to holidays in Spain, enjoying whatever meal of the day outdoors with a glass of Sangria in my hand. Now, during the few weeks of summer in England, I can finally enjoy my meals outside… minus the Sangria but I might just replace it with some bubbly, sounds good to you? Sounds good to me.
I think I got a bit side-tracked there but back to eating outside. Eating al fresco is simply fabulous. Another meal I like to have outside is afternoon tea. Normal afternoon tea and even themed afternoon tea – the only thing I need is good company and it’s set! It’s lovely to invite my friends over for some afternoon tea in the comfort of my garden.
If you’ve never hosted a tea party, it’s time to change that! Plus, it’s a great excuse to wear a cute outfit. Today, I’ve partnered up with Springvale Foods, UK fine food wholesaler, to share some tips and tricks on how to host the perfect tea party.
Prepare the menu.
What type of afternoon tea will you want to put together? Cream tea? Full afternoon tea? Sparkling afternoon tea? First, decide the type of afternoon tea you’d like to host and then start to think about what food and drinks you are going to serve. Home Restaurant recommends considering “your friends and family’s requirements and get some goodies that everyone can enjoy.” I think that is essential for any gathering, it’s important to think about your guests’ requirements to ensure everyone enjoys their stay.
As Luxirare comments on a recent blog post, “Garden parties are not complete with a cup good of tea and a biscuit.” And I couldn’t agree more! Have a few biscuits and sweet snacks ready to serve after the savoury section of your afternoon tea. Luxirare recommends Border Biscuits saying these are “perfect to dunk or dip on tea, or simply to eat straight out of the box.”
If you need some inspiration for the savoury goodies, Janine Huldie shared a variety of delicious finger sandwiches that will go down as a treat at your garden tea party, from avocado egg salad sandwiches and turkey and cheese sandwiches to tuna cream cheese sandwiches and even strawberry shortcake sandwiches.
Theme or no theme?
To choose or not to choose a theme? That is the question. If you have time and are passionate about a certain subject, movie, place or you’re celebrating a specific occasion, do it! Go all out and create a fabulous themed afternoon tea. Go for a Mean Girls themed afternoon tea with everything pink or maybe a Harry Potter themed afternoon tea with some magical tea options.
Although there is nothing wrong with a traditional (non-themed) afternoon tea, the High Tea Society believes that when “deciding how to decorate, it’s important to select a colour palette to carry through the whole event; Pastels are a classic hallmark of High Tea, but in our modern day, your Tea Party can be as unique and colourful as you are.”
Most importantly, have fun! Choose your favourite teas, have a good spread and invite some of your great friends, that’s all you need.