3 Jubilant And Festive Holiday Tea Parties 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 themed holiday 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.

Types of Holiday Tea Parties and Their Essentials

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

Not all tea parties are elaborate and intricate meals — some teas are much simpler. Do you want to serve only scones and sweets? Or do you want sandwiches or a heartier meal? You can even combine your favorite tea elements — like afternoon tea and high tea — if you wish.

Holiday Afternoon Tea

When you think “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 pallet. 
  • 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. Stick with three to five different sandwiches to give enough variety and create a focused menu. 
  • 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 tea party, 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 if you are hosting a very large party of 15 or more in between meals. 

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 afternoon tea seems like too much work — but cream tea seems too simple. If you want your party to be a little heavier than a scones-only cream 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 have a sweet tooth!

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 tea event. 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 scones are a lovely compliment to a heavy evening meal. 

3 Holiday Tea Themes

Have you decided what kind of tea or tea party you would like to create? You can even combine two kinds of teas together — if you want to break tradition and serve afternoon tea with a main course dish, 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 creating a holiday theme:

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 — even 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 tea party that embodies the holiday spirit. 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 are a big hit but don’t be afraid to introduce a new flavor 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 tea accompanied by a glass of bubbly. Did you know that afternoon tea with champagne is called a Royal Tea? 

Set up a fun and optional table activity. 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 — 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 the year off right.

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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