The Most Unique Thanksgiving Theme Ideas This Year

Thanksgiving is almost here — are you hosting? We have some excellent Thanksgiving party ideas to make this year delicious and fun! 

From memorable Thanksgiving theme ideas to ways to incorporate tea into your festivities — we have some tips and sources of inspiration so you can create those special memories that will last a lifetime. 

Here at Teabloom, we are obsessed with all things tea, and we always encourage you to serve tea or take every opportunity to host your own afternoon tea — No matter if it’s someone’s birthday or a holiday. It’s always time for tea in our book. 

But, you don’t have to completely flip on the tables on Thanksgiving traditions and dishes in order to enjoy tea. Here are some tips for hosting tea for your main course, and some tips for how to add tea to give some pizzazz to your unbreakable traditions. 

Tips for Hosting a Thanksgiving Tea Party

Are you looking for a completely fresh Thanksgiving party idea? If your family is all on board for turning the tables on tradition and hosting a tea party, have at it! 

If you want to serve afternoon tea, we recommend keeping the party small — to about 6 or maybe 8 people at the most. If you have a trustworthy group of cooks and preps, ask them to bring specific bite-sized savories or sweets, scones, or other afternoon tea essentials to take some of the work off of your hands.

We understand that afternoon tea is no small feat, and it might be just a little too much to think about right now, so we have another Thanksgiving party idea that’s almost a cheat: Thanksgiving high tea. If you want to have “tea” for Thanksgiving but don’t want to overthink the logistics of all the little things for afternoon tea, have a High Tea, instead. 

What is high tea? All you have to do is make your traditional dishes — turkey and all — and serve them alongside a pot of hearty tea. That is technically the definition of High Tea: a robust dinnertime meal with a pot of tea. This will satiate your obsession with tea, and it will help appease all of the family members who are expecting the traditional spread of family dishes. Win-win!

Creative Ways to Use Tea During Thanksgiving

You don't have to literally host an afternoon or high tea to enjoy tea during Thanksgiving. In fact, you can use tea as a complement to what you’re already planning. Here are some Thanksgiving party ideas for how to use tea without it being the center of the festivities — We’ll leave that focal point to the turkey.

A Perfect Centerpiece

Fresh flower bouquets are always a lovely compliment to the centerpiece table display. But how about switching those fresh flowers out for something functional and showstopping? 

Blooming tea flowers are a spin on the traditional floral arrangement and are just as beautiful to look at as they are fun to drink. You can steep tea flowers multiple times or just let them sit on the table for a showstopping experience. Blooming tea in a glass teapot will have your guests appreciating flower art at its finest.

Gratitude Tea Corner

You can encourage the exploration and connection between tea and mindfulness with this Thanksgiving party idea. In a corner of a quiet room, set up a tranquil tea corner with a chair or pillows and tealight candles on a small table. Invite your guests to experience their own private moment of reflection and thankfulness in private while sipping on a cup of tea.

Tea with Dessert

Your main courses have been devoured but there is always room for dessert — and tea. Another Thanksgiving party idea is to set up a dessert buffet with tea on the side — and maybe coffee for the family members who insist on all-American coffee. 

We encourage the use of tea not only on the side but in your desserts as well. Have you had our new and improved favorite chai cookie recipe? It’s absolutely delicious and has a perfect spice flavor that embraces the essence of Thanksgiving. 

Signature Cocktails and Iced Tea Mocktails

Tea mixes so naturally with alcohol and gives a nice spin to mocktails, too! Create a recipe infused with tea for an extra something special at your Thanksgiving party. Here are a few Thanksgiving tea cocktail ideas: Chai-spiced bourbon and Earl Grey martinis. You can also fix up a hearty helping of a signature harvest iced tea for that mocktail experience. We firmly believe iced tea recipes should be enjoyed all throughout the year — especially next to a roaring fire. 

Upgraded Side Dishes

Adding tea to drinks and desserts might seem obvious, but how about adding tea to your side dishes and other Thanksgiving recipes? For this Thanksgiving party idea, you can use the tea leaves themselves or infuse sauces, dishes, and spices with tea for a unique spin and flavor that your guests won’t be able to put a finger on. Here is a list of ways you can use tea in a plethora of foods and dishes. 

Thanksgiving Theme Ideas

You want this Thanksgiving to be the talk of the decade in your family. You aren’t so easily satisfied with just an ordinary Thanksgiving dinner. You want an extra layer of something special, and these Thanksgiving theme ideas will really bump up the fun.

Harvest Festival

This is a super fun and traditional Thanksgiving party idea: turn your home into the ultimate Harvest Festival with fresh pumpkins of all sizes and colors sprinkled about your home. Tuck cornstalks in the corners of rooms, plop a hay bale out by your front door, and cover it with gourds. How about hosting a pumpkin decorating contest or playing bobbing for apples? 

Friendsgiving

Sometimes family is what you make it, and a Friendsgiving Thanksgiving theme idea gives you the opportunity to show those you care about most just how much they mean to you. If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving this year, consider asking each person to bring a potluck dish to share with everyone. Give each one of your amazing friends a personalized thank you card with a small gift that includes a heartfelt and handwritten message that will warm their hearts with gratitude.

Around the World International Potluck

Are you a little tired of the same old Thanksgiving dishes year after year? Bump up the creativity with this Thanksgiving party idea by celebrating the diversity of amazing cultural dishes from around the world. You can even have guests bring their own favorite recipes that highlight one of their favorite cultural traditions. 

Thanksgiving Brunch

Your family might be over the top busy, which means many of them will visit multiple houses for Thanksgiving. A Thanksgiving Brunch might be the answer to your timing conundrum and it’s a great way to get the bulk of the celebration out of the way at a decent hour. Serve turkey — or maybe fried chicken tenders — stuffing, omelets, pancakes, or waffles. The combination of sweet and savory is out of this world amazing! 

Bookworm Thanksgiving

Are your guests major nerdy bookworms? A fun Thanksgiving party idea is to ask them to bring a book they’re thankful for and share it with the group. Both fiction and non-fiction are welcome here. You can set up some book-themed decor and take some time to discuss the books that have inspired you over the last year or books that have changed your life. 

Plant-Based Thanksgiving

A vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving theme idea might not feel very festive to some people, but if you and your family are up for it, this is a lovely way to explore completely new dishes and ingredients. Some folks might miss the turkey — it’s true. But vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes can be packed with even more flavor than traditional Thanksgiving party ideas.

Don’t Forget the Party Favors

Show your friends and family how much you care with trinkets and Thanksgiving gift ideas that bring a smile to their faces. You can check out some amazing ideas for presents big and small — and even host and hostess appreciation gifts. 

You can find even more tea-inspired presents and teaware at Teabloom. They host the largest selection of responsibly sourced borosilicate glass teaware anywhere — and they also carr USDA Certified Organic teas.

This Thanksgiving, show them how grateful you are and give them a little special something from Teabloom.

www.Teabloom.com