Afternoon tea is a wonderful ritual to bring beauty and grace into the life of your family and your friends. There is something special about the etiquette and manners we bring to afternoon tea that recaptures the romance and a gentler pace of life.

Tea is a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with other ladies, or get to know some of your neighbors. A regular afternoon tea would be a relaxed context for a ladies Bible study, prayer group or neighborhood book club. Even young girls can be included in tea. And lest you think that you need to go out and buy fancy china and learn all of the proper tea etiquette, it is more important to extend a hand of friendship and open your heart and home to others.

Begin by drawing up a list of ladies that you would like to invite over to your home. Perhaps you have a theme in mind. If all of the ladies have an interest in the Victorian era, for example, you could send out invitations to a "Victorian tea." Whether you choose a theme or not, you can set a pretty table using your finest china and silver (or any variation of dinnerware). Gather or purchase a few fresh flowers to put in a vase, or use a silk arrangement.

You can either brew a pot of tea and use a strainer as you pour it into each teacup or fill a stainless steel infuser with loose tea and let it steep in each teacup. Or, you can always use teabags, the simplest of all methods! Sometimes I like to put a selection of teabags in a nice crystal container and let my guests choose their own teas. And it is always thoughtful to include herbal teas for those guests who do not want caffeine.

I have a small and motley collection of teacups which I like to choose from for each special guest. It is a charming (and inexpensive) alternative to purchasing a full set of fine china. Stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshall's often offer mismatched china and it can be a fun shopping experience to browse through their unlikely collections!

What should you serve for your tea party? For a traditional English tea, staples include scones with clotted cream and lemon curd and an assortment of tea sandwiches (watercress, tuna, etc.) If you are interested in an Asian tea, Cantonese Dim Sum include a variety of bite-sized dumplings and pastries. But you don't have to be limited to traditional tea fare. Some freshly baked cookies will always do, or even some store-bought cupcakes if you don't have the time to make something.

The best part of afternoon tea is the fellowship and conversation. As you let time catch up with your heart, you can share your life with others and they can share their lives with you. Afternoon tea is a great context for prayer, testimony, and even confession! The old phrase, "Tea and sympathy" really is a good idea.

Related Links
Afternoon Tea for Two
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Crabtree & Evelyn Tea
The Guide to Tea Shops
My Christmas Tea
Tea Recipes
Valentine Tea