Do Not Criticize

You would never want to intrude upon this sacred space with the slightest hint of criticism, cynicism or self-indulgence. You will not allow yourself to judge your host for poor time management skills. Neither will you allow yourself to think, “That map of Italy tablecloth looks tacky in here.” It is always easy to find fault, and indeed, finding fault has become our national pastime. But it takes the heart of an artist to find beauty and harmony while others dwell on discord.

As you and the other guests enjoy the food your host has prepared for you, set aside any food prejudices you may have. Perhaps you dislike the taste of anise and begin to feel annoyed with your host for adding anise seeds to otherwise perfectly good scones, just to pretend that they are Italian. Your mind wanders to the fact that scones are not and never have been Italian and do not even belong at this party. Discipline yourself to recognize these negative thoughts as a petty form of self-indulgence. Refocus immediately on the beauty of the occasion and the other lovely food items being served. If you really detest anise, skip the scones and eat the tomato, basil and mozzarella sandwiches.

 

One of the charms of afternoon tea is the fact that the host offers a variety of small bites for his guests to enjoy. Under no circumstances should any guest ever criticize any of the food. Comments like, “These cannoli are soggy. They were obviously sitting in the kitchen too long,” or “Why are your serving manchego?  That’s a Spanish cheese, not Italian,” only feed the speaker’s ego and sense of superiority. Finally, keep in mind that afternoon tea is about the entire gathered community, not you as an individual person. Announcing to everyone that you don’t like anise would only detract from the harmony of the occasion.

 

Contact Us

Send us your email address and we'll update you once a month with our latest information (i.e., Menus, Recipes, Blogs, Special Promotions, etc.)

THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
  May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
  A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

  An Afternoon Tea for  Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea