An English High Tea event is all about refined elegance.
An English High Tea takes one back to a slower
An English High Tea, or Afternoon Tea would be served in the late afternoon around 3 pm and would often go into the evening with more substantial food offerings to replace a full dinner. At more elegant events, wine and sherry were also available.
An English High Tea has a mixture of cold and hot, sweet and savory finger foods. Tea, coffee, and juices are served and often sparkling wine and/or cocktails as the afternoon progresses.
Invitations To An English High Tea Party
An English High Tea really starts with the invitations. To set the scene well these should be more formal on heavy cards in cream envelopes.
Tell guests they are cordially invited to attend an English Style High Tea at the residence of the Host from 3 pm.
Let guests know if there will be a dress code of English Style Formal Tea Dresses and white gloves.
You can set a fun dress code such as Downton Abby Style or Queen of England Style.
Be sure to ask your guests to RSVPs at least one week prior to the event to allow you time to arrange the catering.
Keep the old-fashioned theme by posting the invitations by mail to your guests with handwritten names and addresses. Or even better hand-deliver them in person.
Setting The Scene For A Successful Afternoon Tea
An English High Tea means elegance and refinement. This is not the place for over the top embellishments or decorations. A classic vintage style works best for this party.
The basics of An English style Afternoon Tea include:
White tablecloths
Starched linen napkins
Matching Fine Bone China Teacups and Saucers
Silver teaspoons
Silver serving tongs
Fine china teapots, plates, sugar bowls
Crystal or cut glass jam bowls.
Large vases of flowers, roses, and hyacinths.
Classic White Table Clothes make an elegant base to design your afternoon tea party style
Pretty Matching Plates, Cups and Saucers, Tea Pots and Sugar bowls like this Royal Albert New Country Roses Tea Set add to the classic style
Afternoon Tea Place settings
Place a handwritten name card at each place setting and a small menu card.
Beside each place setting place a small side plate with a knife and linen napkin in silver or porcelain napkin ring.
On the center of the place, setting stand your vintage Fine Bone China teacup and saucer with a silver spoon on the saucer.
Add sugar bowls and milk creamers to the table.
You will bring the teapots filled with hot tea later.
If you are serving bubbly wine also set the table with champagne flutes.
Serve the food on gorgeous old fashioned plates and cakes stands.
Tiered plates look perfect in this setting.
When setting the food on tiered plates, remember to put savory food on the bottom and sweet things on the top plate.
Royal Albert New Country Rose Tiered Cakes Stands
Royal Albert Teacups
Be sure to have enough dishes of jams, cream, and honey for adding to the scones.
For the tea service have small dishes of sliced lemons for placing in your tea. You can make the teapots full of loose leaf tea, in which case remember to offer guests a tea strainer when pouring the tea.
Alternatively, have a selection of flavored tea bags on offer for guests to choose their own tea.
Classic English High Tea Food Selections
Savory Selections
Selection of small sandwiches and Club sandwiches
(lots of ideas in our Classic Sandwiches Post)
Devilled Eggs
Mini Quiches
Ready made Spinach and Cheese Quiches are simple and delicious
And Beef Wellingtons Are a Perfectly English Option
Sausage Rolls
Ready Made Smoked Salmon Rolls
Tomato tart
Cold meat platter
Cheese Platter
Fresh Cheese Platter
Bread rolls
Sweet Selections
Sponge Cake (Our Victorian Sponge Cake Recipe is here)
Ready made Layered Sponge Cake with Raspberry Filling
Scones with jam and cream – (Our Scone Recipes are here)
Custard tarts
Chocolate brownies
Tea cakes (Our Tea Loaf recipe is here)
Iced buns
Made to Order Iced Danish Buns
Shortbread cookies
Classic Afternoon Tea Selections
Classic Earl Grey Tea
Traditional English Breakfast Tea
Refreshing Peppermint Tea
Pink or Purple Party Tea Set or why not both?
Equipment List for hosting an English High Tea Event
Per Place setting
Classic Bone China teacups with matching saucers
Fine Bone China Side Plates
Crisp White Linen napkins
English Rose Napkin rings
Classic Lemonade Glasses
Champagne Glasses or Sherry Glasses
Dainty Silver Teaspoons
Silver butter knife
Handwritten Place cards
Vintage Royal Style Tea Cup Set
Glass Bell Jar for serving small treats
For the table
Glass water jugs with ice and lemon slices or mint
Silver Cake slice
Silver Sandwich tongs
Silver Cream Spoon
Tea Strainer
Glass or Ceramic Cake Stands
Fine Bone China Sandwich plates
Classic Fine Bone China Teapots
Crystal Sugar bowls with silver sugar spoons
Fine Bone China or Cut Glass Milk Jugs
Dainty porcelain Jam Dishes
Glass or Ceramic Cream Bowl with a silver spoon
Vases with roses and other flowers in season
Other optional extras
Mini British Flags in cupcakes
Tea themed gifts for guests
A Butler to serve the tea?
The New Vintage Tea Party Book is now available on Amazon
Articles about tea time:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-history-and-etiquette_b_3751053
https://time.com/4640082/teatime-history/
https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/best-afternoon-tea-london
https://www.thesavoylondon.com/experience/afternoon-tea-london/
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