Excellent Flavors That Will Make Your Tea Party Shine

The heart of every tea experience lies in its tea party menu ideas. But where do you start? 

You understand that a tea party is so much more than a gathering — it’s a memorable experience filled to the brim with charm, elegance, and delectable flavors. The right finger sandwiches, scones, and teas create the ultimate sense of connection and warmth. 

In today’s post, you’ll explore types of tea parties and how each one shapes your menu. You’ll discover helpful tips for planning your menu, choosing the perfect teas, and picking out savory and sweet dishes to suit your occasion. You’ll also get some health-conscious options and tips for seasonal flavors and dishes.

Types of Tea Parties and How They Shape the Menu

Choosing a tea party theme is one thing, but the kind of tea party you decide to host will give you a great idea for what you should serve. Each style gives you hints for tea party menu ideas you’ll serve. Once you’ve chosen the type of tea party you’ll host, the rest of the menu easily falls into place. 

Traditional Afternoon Tea

If you’re thinking “tea party,” you’re probably thinking about afternoon tea. This mid-afternoon, elegant gathering features crustless finger sandwiches, scones, delicate pastries, savories, and other finger foods. This is a fantastic type of tea event that’s perfect for bridal showers, birthdays, and other sophisticated gatherings. 

Hearty High Tea

This is not a fancier type of afternoon tea — on the contrary! This is actually a hearty evening meal or dinner traditionally served among working families that includes a hefty pot of tea. Think savory pies, scrumptious breads, vegetable dishes, and even a roast. If you’re serving tea in the evening and want a heavier option, high tea is the way to go.

Simple Cream Tea

This simple tea time option is casual, cozy, and perfect for everything from small get-togethers and large “snacktime” parties. This is one of the most popular tea party menu ideas because it only involves tea, scones, Devonshire cream, and jam. It’s a fantastic option if you just want a few friends over for a few hours or if you want the whimsy of tea time without all the fussy details of an intricate afternoon tea. 

Sweet Light Tea

If you’re in the mood for something more than just a scone and tea, a light tea might be your best bet. This falls between an afternoon tea and a cream tea and usually features scones with tea and a few extra pastries, cakes, and tea snacks to fill out the menu.

Celebratory Royal or Champagne Tea

If you want all the pomp and circumstance of afternoon tea with even more elevated flair, a royal tea or champagne tea is your answer. This is simply afternoon tea — with all its bells and whistles — served with a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. Huzzah!

How to Plan Your Tea Party Menu Ideas

First things first — understand and know your guests and who you are serving. Do they have dietary restrictions? Are they vegetarian or gluten-free? 

Include a mix of sweet and savory items to satiate every taste preference. Consider including a lighter option, like a salad or fruit bowl, for those who are trying to eat a little healthier. 

Keep your food options small and delicate whenever possible — unless you’re offering a high tea, most tea events will feature little bites and not full meals. Keep “little tastes” of items in mind instead of large servings.

Presentation matters so much when it comes to any kind of tea event. Display your pastries, scones, and desserts on tiered trays or elegant tablescapes. Glass teaware makes the perfect clean and neutral background for any tea party theme you host.

Select Your Teas for Your Party

It’s so tempting to offer an abundance of teas for your guests, but it’s best to keep things simple. One of the best tea party menu ideas is to choose two or three teas that will complement your food rather than compete with it. Here are some of our favorite options. 

Traditional Black Tea

English Breakfast and Earl Grey are classic afternoon tea choices. They leave room for your guests to enjoy all the sweet and savory flavors of your food items. These black teas are smooth and balanced options. 

Earthy Green Tea

Green teas can be earthy, floral, light, and refreshing. Jasmine or Sencha are nice alternatives for guests who may not enjoy traditional black teas. They also offer a little less caffeine than black tea.

Caffeine-Free Herbal Tea

It’s a good idea always to include a caffeine-free option. Decaffeinated green and black teas still have trace amounts of caffeine. If you have guests who are caffeine-intolerant, offer a chamomile, peppermint, or hibiscus tisane.

Enchanting Blooming Tea

If you want to add a touch of magic to your tea party menu ideas, blooming tea may be your answer. These green tea blooming flowers unfurl in hot water and create a memorable show during your party. For the best experience, use glass teapots and keep your tea hot with a matching tealight warmer.

Savory Tea Party Menu Ideas

Salty, cheesy, and savory foods may be the foundation of your afternoon, high, or even your light tea party. These tea party menu ideas balance the sweetness of scones and pastries. Here are some options for afternoon tea, high tea, and light tea parties.

Afternoon Tea Savories

You can never go wrong with crustless finger sandwiches. Offer a variety like egg salad, smoked salmon, or cucumber with cream cheese. Mini quiches are also a delightful savory option.

High Tea Savories

High tea is traditionally served with larger, hearty dishes, like a roast or pot pie. If you prefer small, finger-like foods, opt for mini meat pies, potato pastry bites, or small savory casseroles served in individual dishes. 

Light Tea Savories

A light tea includes scones with a few extra sides. While these sides are usually sweet, there is no harm in adding some savory options as well to mix up the flavor profiles. You can make savory scones served with herbed butter or small vegetable bites.

Sweet Tea Party Menu Ideas

No tea party may be deemed complete unless there are plenty of sweets to go around. Here are some options you can include for your tea party menu ideas that will satisfy every sweet-toothed guest.

Afternoon Tea Sweets

Stick with traditional flavors and treats like scones with Devonshire cream and seasonal jam. Fruit tarts, mini eclairs, and petit fours offer a fun variety. Delicate sponge cakes and tea cakes, like a Queen Victoria Sponge, are welcome afternoon tea staples.

High Tea Sweets

Remember — this is a heartier tea time experience, so think rich, more substantial sweets. Make a bread pudding or warm fruit pies. Slices of fresh cake or fruit cobblers are perfect tea party menu ideas.

Light Tea Sweets

Your light tea event should focus on scones as the highlight — always served them with Devonshire cream and jam. Mix up the menu by adding one or two small pastries like fruit-filled turnovers, thumbprint cookies, or shortbread.

Healthy or Dietary-Conscious Menu Ideas

Do you have guests who would appreciate a few healthier options or who are diet-conscious? You can offer gluten-free or vegan finger sandwiches made with vegetables — think cucumbers, olives, pesto, or sundried tomato — and vegan butter or dairy-free cream cheese. 

Fruit skewers and yogurt parfaits offer your guests a refreshing and colorful touch. Chia puddings featuring seasonal fruit are delicious. Oat-based cookies or desserts made with coconut or almond flour may be creative tea party menu ideas for people who are sensitive to gluten.

Seasonal Flavor Ideas

Keep things fresh and in-season with flavors that highlight the best flavors of the moment. Including tea party menu ideas that are seasonal helps mix flavors up and ground everyone in the present festive moment.

Spring Menu Flavors

Floral teas are a welcome highlight for springtime tea festivities. Lemon tarts are sweet and zingy and can be mixed with blueberries for a more interesting flavor blend. Dried fruit or berry scones with raspberry jam or lemon curd are almost expected — and don’t forget the Devonshire cream.

Summer Menu Flavors

Switch out your hot teas for iced teas — you’ll find flavor ideas for summer and every other season here. Fruit salads with berries, peaches, cherries, and plums are colorful and refreshing. French macarons can also feature seasonal berry-like flavors and add a pop of color to your tablescape.

Autumn Menu Flavors

When it comes to fall flavors, think warm spices like chai, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon. Apple pies and apple tartlets are fantastic tea party menu ideas for fall. You can’t go wrong with pumpkin scones or even maple pecan scones with a drizzle glaze.

Winter Menu Flavors

Peppermint tea can be sweetened with miniature candy canes. Chocolate truffles are decadent treats, and so are cranberry mascarpone tarts. Gingerbread cookies have that beloved spice flavor, while poached pears add an air of sophistication to your tea time event.

Plan Your Memorable Tea Party Today

Will you use any of these tea party menu ideas for your event? A well-crafted tea party sets the stage for a gathering your guests will talk about for many years to come. Keep your menu balanced and include both savory and sweet options so there are selections everyone will enjoy. 

For a tea set that fits every tea time experience and occasion, look no further than Teabloom. Their affordable and beautiful teaware collections are handcrafted with your health and wellness in mind. Find the essentials you need to host your perfect tea party at Teabloom today.

www.Teabloom.com