3 Jubilant And Festive Holiday Tea Party Ideas They'll Love

Have you ever thrown a holiday tea party? Afternoon tea and high tea parties put a spin on the same-old holiday gathering. You might even want to consider adding it to your list of traditional annual holiday events! 

Learn tips and tricks for hosting three different types of holiday-themed tea parties — and all the different kinds of tea events you can host. Whether you’re throwing a tea for three or a tea for 20, you can easily sort out your menu and tea flavors to make your event shine.

Holiday Tea Party Themes

Will you host a cream tea, an afternoon tea, or a high tea? Before you pick an overall theme, decide what kind of tea party to host. 

Not all tea parties are elaborate and intricate meals — some teas are much simpler and a lot more casual. 

Do you want to serve only scones and sweets? Or do you want sandwiches or a heartier meal? You can even combine the scones from afternoon tea with a roast from high tea. Let’s explore the differences between these tea parties:

Holiday Afternoon Tea

When you think “holiday tea party” afternoon tea is probably what comes to the forefront of your mind. Finger sandwiches, scones, sweets, and treats are put on display and served alongside tea. If you want to go the traditional route and host an afternoon tea you can start with this simple outline for your menu:

Tea

Consider serving two or three different teas, especially for a larger gathering with 10 or more people. Pick a traditional tea that won’t clash with all of the flavors of your tea food such as English breakfast or Darjeeling. Serve an herbal or tisane tea for those who don’t want caffeine. Your third tea can be a festive flavor or something a little more adventurous for the palate. 

Scones

Serve your scones with Devonshire cream and fruit preserves. Stick with one or two scone flavors — plain scones will highlight the flavors of the preserves and cream the best, but flavored scones are equally as delicious.

Finger Sandwiches

Don’t overcomplicate your sandwich options for your holiday tea party. Stick with three to five different sandwiches to give enough variety in flavor without the overwhelm of creating too many options. 

Savories

These can be everything from mini quiches and tartlets to cheesy flaky pastries. Pick one to three savory treats to round out your afternoon tea menu and add a complimentary touch to the sweetness of scones and desserts. 

Mini Sweets

Petit fours, mini cakes, small desserts, and cookies are a must-have with afternoon tea. Stick with two to four different mini sweets for a good variety that isn’t overwhelming.

Holiday Cream Tea

If you want to host a much simpler and straightforward holiday tea party idea, a cream tea might be perfect for you. A cream tea is a great idea as an intimate afternoon pick-me-up with a friend or two. 

It is also an easy and realistic option for a holiday tea party if you are hosting a very large gathering of 15 or more. It’s excellent for a party between meals. We recommend around three or four o’clock. 

All you need are two main elements for a cream tea — the tea and the scones:

Tea 

If you are hosting only a few friends, pick one tea to share. If you have individual teapots, your guests can also pick their own teas. If you are hosting a large event, stick with two to three teas that complement the theme and bring out the flavors of the scones.

Scones 

If you have a few friends over, make traditional scones and keep the menu simple. Serve them with a few flavors of preserves and Devonshire cream. 

If you are hosting a large gathering, make two or three different kinds of scones served with jams, preserves, or toppings. Currant, cinnamon, butterscotch pecan, and fig are all delightful holiday scone flavors your guests will love.

Holiday Light Tea

You might be thinking that an afternoon holiday tea party seems like too much work — but cream tea seems too simple. If you want to serve a little more than just scones and tea, then a light tea might be the best tea party option for you. 

During a light tea, scones and tea are served alongside desserts and sweets. This tea is also served between lunch and dinner and is perfect for a short gathering with friends and family. 

If you want to host a tea party without a large menu, a light tea is elaborate and small enough to make a lasting impression without the time-consuming preparation. And it’s wonderful for those who love sweets and treats with their tea!

Holiday High Tea

If finger sandwiches and a display of sweets seem like too little food, a high tea might be your answer to a filling and robust holiday tea party. 

High tea is a hearty meal — usually dinner — served alongside tea. Traditionally, high tea doesn’t have finger sandwiches, small treats, or even scones. 

Serve a bold and rich tea with your meal. Consider making a roast, and sides that reflect your theme and highlight the season. If you insist on serving scones, savory flavors like chive and cheddar are a lovely compliment to a heavy evening meal. 

3 Holiday Tea Party Ideas for Themes

Have you decided what kind of holiday tea party you would like to create? 

You can even combine two types of tea parties together. If you want to break tradition and serve afternoon tea with your traditional main course dishes, this could be a good compromise for hungrier family members who insist on having a huge holiday meal. 

You can also take your party a step further by having a holiday theme. Here are some of our favorites for the holiday season:

Hanukkah Kosher Tea

Celebrate Hanukkah with a kosher afternoon tea that will delight the senses and cater to tradition. Throwing a kosher tea party is easier than it sounds — simply decide if you want to serve meat or dairy alongside pareve foods and build your menu out from there. 

You can enjoy cream tea with dairy-free options such as vegan creams and scones. Afternoon tea and high tea are also easy to host and can become a new annual event to celebrate alongside the holiday.

Christmas Afternoon Tea

If your family and friends celebrate Christmas, consider hosting an afternoon holiday tea party that embodies the spirit of the season. Incorporate peppermint and chocolate flavors in a dessert, or maybe bake some orange and cranberry scones. 

The sky is the limit when it comes to decorations, tablescapes, and the menu. Traditional sandwiches and flavors like egg salad and cucumber are a big hit but don’t be afraid to introduce a new flavor like curry chicken to put a holiday spin on their palates. 

Happy New Year Royal Tea Party

When Hanukkah and Christmas are done, it’s time to rest, relax, and think about ringing in the new year — with a fun and festive tea party! Invite your closest friends or family for an afternoon holiday tea party accompanied by a glass of bubbly. Did you know that afternoon tea with champagne is called a Royal Tea? 

Set up a fun and casual activity table. You can create a decorative resolution jar filled with blank sheets of paper and pens. Encourage everyone to write down their goals for the coming year to take home with them

Fun Fact: You’re more likely to accomplish those goals if you write them down.

Set up your tablescape with poppers, sparkling trinkets, or keepsake party favors. Toast to new adventures, love, and friendship, and celebrate the new year with a festive tea party that starts with loved ones and positivity.

Host a Holiday Tea Party with Teabloom

Are you looking for kosher-certified teas, teapots, and teacups for your holiday gathering? Teabloom is your home for the largest selection of handcrafted borosilicate glass teaware — a sustainable and revolutionary teaware material that is not only beautiful but better for your health and wellness. 

Explore teaware sets, organic teas, and more so you can host your holiday tea party with style and ease this year. Shop quality teaware at Teabloom today.

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