Tea time is a time to encourage and practise pleasant and dignified habits of hospitality, and the comfort of guests is always at the forefront of a good hostess' mind. She wants everyone to relax and enjoy themselves with whatever company they will encounter. Tea and relaxation always go together. There are a few things you can do in order for your tea party to be as successful and enjoyable as possible, one of which is to have all the right equipment on hand. We often think that having a beautiful tea service set is all we need, but there is more! There are reasons for tea things being what they are and definite advantages in having just those right things. Everything goes a whole lot smoother when we do not have to worry about improvising and can make tea time as enjoyable as we can for our guests.
Tea cups that are plain white on the inside are best for showing the beautiful colors that distinguish different teas. So if you are drinking Japanese green tea or wish to show off the clarity of Darjeeling tea, think of using cups with pale colored interiors. Make sure you have enough room to lay out the tea cupswithout having to stack them and thereby risking chips and cracks.The first thing that springs to mind when we think of a tea party is the teapot. Coming in all shapes and sizes, you might choose one that is fun and whimsical, or one that completes a tea service set. Then again, you might like to use your only surviving piece of an heirloom tea set that belonged to your grandmother. In any case, your teapot is highly likely to made of china, and if fine bone English china, all the better. China is a perfect material for teapots because of its heat retaining quality and the fact that it does not alter the flavor of the tea. Glass teapots are becoming more widely used and are a lovely modern alternative. The glass allows you to see the tea unfurl and watch the color develop to just how you like it. Plain glass gives you the advantage of being able to vary the look of your other teaware accessories you will use with it.When looking for a teapot, consider one with a handle that you can hold easily without burning your fingers. A well balanced teapot will have a lid that stays on while you pour the tea and allow you to pour with one hand.
If it's just you and yourself for tea you can use a tea infuser instead of making up a whole pot. And you can console yourself with the fact that this is the way tea was originally served – tea in the cup and boiling water poured directly into it. Tea infusers with handles, shaped like a spoon, are the ideal thing to use in this instance. If you prefer, you can always use a tea infuser mug complete with an infuser basket which sits inside the mug and strains the tea as you remove it. Most come with a lid to aid the brewing process. I love using an infuser mug for fresh mint tea. Infuser teapots are also excellent as the basket can be removed to prevent the tea from going from the perfect ‘brew' to the perfect ‘stew'
So we have the tea all sorted out, now what about the food? Have you ever tried to serve up cake only to get cream on your fingers? We've all done it, but how can we prevent this most tempting moment to lick our fingers, and after each slice your serve? Not to be done! Firstly, a good wide cake server that will balance the cake well is one way of preventing it tipping and you having to guide it with your fingers (I know, party pooper!). Having the guest's plate close at hand, and not carrying the cake across the table to her plate, is a sure way to prevent disaster. However, the best invention for dealing with potentially wobbly pieces of cake is miniature tongs, flat ones preferably, or cake tongs. Tongs and cake servers can often be purchased in a matching set and add a lovely distinguished look to your table. Make sure you have napkins handy, too. Putting some thought into well placed dishes on the table will also help make serving easier.
At least one napkin holder is a good idea, and two (one for each end of the table) for large table settings. Holders which have the napkins with the edges standing upright make for easier handling of the napkins. It's a good idea to hand your guests a napkin with their cup of tea or cake at the outset, so they don't have to go looking for one if the need arises, because, as we all well know, napkins are often the lost and forgotten item on a table with a bad habit of coming to remembrance with the occurrence of mishaps with food or drink. Have them at the top of your list! This little attention to detail goes a long way in ensuring the comfort of your guests. Dessert plates, being slightly bigger than a tea cup saucer, will enable good management of napkin and tidbits.
The final touch to a well laid out tea party table is the cake stand. When it comes to the art of serving up food, height is everything! Placing tiered cake stands and cupcake stands to the back or middle of the table and lower dishes near the edge creating a gradual effect is also much more pleasing to the eye. This is a logical pattern which allows easy access to food without knocking anything over, or dragging sleeves in cream and butter icing. Have mini tongs available on your tiered cake stands and cake servers near the pedestal cake stands.
Other silverware you will need is teaspoons and dessert spoons and forks. You may also need small knives depending on what food you are serving. Jam is served with either a spoon or knife, but cream is always served with a spoon. Cake forks are often very welcome. Although eating with fingers is usually acceptable, under no circumstances should you expect, or put your guests in the position of, having to eat that way. Always provide eating implements.
When purchasing tea service sets and teaware accessories consider the comfort of your guests first. Companies that produce good quality tea service sets have already put a great deal of thought into this aspect and have successfully combined functionality and beauty. Fine bone English china tea sets are a good example of this. Having a well thought out tea party with all the equipment you will need to make tea time as enjoyable as possible is worth the effort. Making a list of what you want adds even more fun to the prospect.
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