Afternoon Tea

  The century old tradition of four o'clock Tea Time in jolly old England can be as simple as a quiet tea for one, a gathering of good friends, or the fussiest of Tea fancies fit for the Queen herself. Which ever your fancy, pour yourself a yummy blend of your favorite tea, Don't forget a sweet or two, while we escape to the charms of an English Tea Fancy with a little help from our friends

 Tea Etiqette

 Tea! No bad day can be all bad with a hot cup of tea in hand. And a wonderful, perfectly lovely day becomes still more wonderful and more lovely with tea in the afternoon. Lest the fine art of the tea party be lost, here are some classic points to follow.

• Send invitations or visiting cards. Sometimes I simple call on friends and say, " Please come to tea," but a handwritten note on pretty paper makes the occasion more special. Four o'clock is the traditional time for tea: Well past lunch, too early for dinner. Late morning teas are also wonderful.
• Dress elegantly but simply. You may also want to try a costume tea party where you and your guests wear the prettiest, laciest, oldest fashioned dresses you own. Guests may wear hats but the hostess may not.
• Decorate the table with flowers, candles, and lace. Use your prettiest china, your daintiest napkins.. Polish the silver to perfection. Your table should be a feast for the eyes.
• Brew the pot of tea at the table and always pour for your guests. On more formal occasions, serve guests both condiments and food. For the most part I prefer to let my friends help themselves so that they feel right at home. An elegant party need not stand on ceremony.
• Cream may enrich coffee, but it overwhelms tea. Provide whole milk along with sugar and slices of lemon.
• A traditional tea consists of three courses of food: sandwiches, scones, and desserts. Tiny triangle sandwiches of cheese, cucumber, egg, or tuna salad never fail to delight. Scones are best served with jam and whipped cream or butter.
• Your kettle should stay busy in the kitchen. Keep the pot warm under a tea cozy while you chat to your hearts content.

Hosting an afternoon tea, from the book of "Let's have tea together By Susan Wheeler".

The Perfect Tea

It's an old fashion formula, but it works like a charm.

• Start with water that tastes good. Avoid chlorinated tap water.
• Bring your kettle to a boil.
• Warm the tea pot with a splash of boiling water, then pour the water away. This first water primes the porcelain, ensuring a proper temperature for the infusion to follow.
• Add one teaspoon of loose tea for every cup of water, plus " one for the pot". A stainless steel tea ball works wonders if you want to avoid the step of straining. Allow plenty of room for the tea leaves to expand with in the ball.
• Add boiling hot water to black and oolong teas; almost boiling water to green teas. Green teas will taste slightly bitter if the water is too hot.
• Let the leaves steep for 3 to 4 minutes, depending on the type of tea. In general, green teas take less time and black teas take slightly more time. The longer the steeping, the stronger the brew.
• Voila! The perfect pot.

Tea recipe from the book of "Let's have tea together, By Susan Wheeler".

This pretty doom hanging daintily from over the table is made simple by using a food doom that has been draped in antique lace, garnished with dogwood flowers and hung with a pretty pink ribbon from a tree branch

Dressed For Tea

As a little girl growing up in England, Margaret Hames spent afternoons in her garden playing dress up and hosting tea parties. A play tea set, a teapot full of orangeade and of course those 'hand made' mud cakes, are the cherished memories that will forever keep the little girl alive in all of us. Whether Margaret is sitting reading or visiting with good friends, tea is being served.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• White and/or brown thin sliced bread*
• English Cucumber
• Butter or margarine

*Slice the cucumber very thinly and place to the side. Cut the crusts off the bread and spread butter or margarine on bread (this is the English way but cream cheese can be used if desired). Lay the cucumber slices on top. Salt and pepper as desired and add the top slice. Cut the sandwiches in triangles and arrange on a pretty plate. Use parsley or watercress to decorate.

*To make these delicate tea sandwiches more decorative, try using a slice of white and a slice of brown bread or prepare some with white and some with brown bread and mix them on the plate for a nice presentation.

British Tea Scones

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. S.R. flour
• 3 oz. butter
• 1 level tsp. salt
• 6 fl. oz milk
• 2 level tsp. baking powder
• 2 level tbsp. caster sugar (fine sugar)

*Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl and add the sugar and butter. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Gradually mix in the milk to make dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick, then cut out 2-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter, kneading and re-rolling the dough until it is all used up. Arrange scones on baking sheets then brush tops with milk. Bake at 450 (gas 8) for 10-12 minutes until well risen with lightly golden tops.

*Use whipped fresh cream, butter and strawberry jam to fill the scones for a delicious tea time treat. Makes 18-24.

All Recipes by Margaret Hames of England.

A Canopy of Lace

This shady nook nestled under the dogwood tree is an inviting retreat to whisk yourself away with a book of poetry and a hot cup of herbal tea to revive the soul in times of quiet. Drape inexpensive lace amongst the trees to create a veil of romance and privacy. There is no sweeter place I'd rather be.

Tea recipe from the book of "Let's have tea together, By Susan Wheeler".

Margaret, Thank you for sharing your special memories of tea in England and your delicious recipes.

Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. Images,  and creative design are all subject to copyright protection. Jo-Anne Coletti - Vintage Rose Collection.