Tea Party Food Ideas

When we think of when our great-grandparents were young, we imagine tea parties and nights spent dancing. Those definitely were simpler times, though people worked very hard to be able to afford things like the fine china that tea was served in and those delicious pastries that accompanied it. We can bring back a bit of the traditional way of living by using the tea party food ideas below to create an elegant event.

Banana lemon tea cake will be an excellent choice for tea party.

As the name implies, tea should be the focus of this party. This means having a wide assortment of teas, the finest china, and plenty of hot water. Food served alongside this beverage should be light and bring out the flavor of the tea. A heavy meal is the last thing that should be included in a tea party menu. Tea sandwiches, scones, breads, and teacakes are the traditional choices.

Muffin will certainly go perfectly for all types of tea.

If the party is held near holiday time, themed food is appropriate. Think about the fruits and vegetables in season and design the menu around that. For example, at Christmas time, date bread is a nice choice. Summer parties held close to Independence Day can incorporate peaches and fresh berries. A dish of fruit topped with whipped cream is light, yet filling. Vegetables like carrots are used in multiple recipes, including muffins, cakes, and even bread.

The delicious green tea cake.

A tea sandwich looks delicate but is packed with flavor. Use any type of bread or choose a croissant or biscuit. Spread the bread with cream cheese or butter and add fillings like meats, veggies, poultry, or seafood. Trim off the crusts and cut the sandwich to form a triangle. Make sandwiches about an hour before the party to prevent them from getting soggy.

Sandwiches will always be the favorite for tea party.

No tea party would be complete without some sweets so consider adding some delicate cookies or truffles. Just do not provide too many or guests may load up on these, bypassing the sandwiches and tea. Lemon cookies, shortbread, and Linzer tarts are perfect sweet additions to any tea party menu.

Though it might be fun to recreate the tea parties of old, many traditional foods are less appealing than modern offerings. We are better off using some of the tea party food ideas above because we know the meal will be delicious. The best tea parties combine the simple pleasures of the old days with modern culinary delights, resulting in a relaxing time that satisfies the stomach.

Photo Credits
All photos in this page are courtesy by the following authors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85934826@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shok/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehfisher/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/satrina0/

This entry was posted on Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 12:12 am and is filed under Party Food Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.