New Twists to Hosting a Great Tea Party for All

"Everything tastes better outdoors."

- Claudia Roden, cookbook author

The daffodils have lifted their sunny buds to the sky, the cherry blossoms are abloom, could spring really be here? If not in your area, have patience, it is coming, and with it is a fantastic reason to host a tea gathering (one friend or a dozen!) outdoors.

No garden or even a balcony where you live? No problem, your local city park or public garden will be the perfect venue. While everyone has their favorite teas, scones, and sandwiches for the typical British afternoon tea, we’re shaking things up a bit with these new twists on tea party fare and fun ways to get the conversation going:

Change up the Family Gathering!

Forget the typical grilled burgers, host a hearty tea outdoors that any friends and family will love. Prepping everything beforehand means spending more time with what you love most, being with friends and family. Pack your favorite fried chicken, (homemade or store bought), fresh greens and/or potato salad, add some brownies or lemon bars, and everyone will be asking for seconds.

Tea choices should be as comforting as the menu: consider Peach Iced Tea for the adults and Chamomile for kids and adults who like a caffeine-free selection.

A twist for entertainment: If your venue has swings and space for ball games, great; if not, pack some board games and playing cards for at-the-table fun. No games? No problem. Charades and word games are always a hit!

Adagio's iced tea packs make 6 quarts! Easy-peasy clean up, too. Their elegant and easy iced tea makers are also handsome on any picnic table!

Kids love tea!

Nibbles for small hands and a refreshing fruity tisane are perfect for all kids, and the kids-at-heart. Brew up some iced teas like summer-anytime herbals like watermelon in iced tea makers. Bring sturdy paper cups and plenty of napkins! No plates or utensils necessary. Recycle those plastic or paper take-out boxes by lining them with paper towels, add the food, and toss when done. Neat!

Sandwich choices can be simple but buy store-bought breads, white or multi-grain which are easy to cut and inexpensive. How they’re cut adds to the fun: remove the crusts; cut the remaining pieces into triangles and rectangles or use a cookie cutter for various shapes. Fill with kid-friendly ingredients like PB&J, or cheese or for the more daring palates, cucumbers and creamed cheese or hummus or spread each side with creamy sweet butter and add juicy red slices of tomatoes. Add bowls of baby gherkins, pretzels, and of course, cookies.

A few twists to the typical picnic table setting: Use plain paper placemats and gift each child a small pack of crayons so they can color, great way to calm them down before eating. If picnic tables are not available, do bring along some old blankets several old beach towels to lay down on the grass and serve the tea and foods with giggles and glee.

Adagio's kid-centric teas add delight to both children and adults for an outdoor picnic (Tree House Teabags) whether the kids are building real or imaginary forts and treehouses. And, long after your picnic and the ride home, both adults and children can enjoy their Story Time and Fairy Tales Teabags at naptime while reading favorite books. As soon as they’re able, encourage your children to read to you or take turns making up stories to spur the imagination. Sweet dreams!

At-Home Tea Parties with Friends

Love mah jongg?

You don’t have to be characters in “The Joy Luck Club” to have a dim sum party. For the truly ambitious, they’re simple to make (and reason to gather your favorite cooks around you!) Or, buy them freshly made from local Chinese restaurants or major grocers who have selections in their frozen food sections. Steam or fry them and serve promptly. Bam! Crak! Dot!

A twist on this style of tea service is to buy some small handle-less Asian teacups (2-3 oz.) and serve everyone’s favorite Chinese restaurant tea, oolong. You can find the cups in Chinatown shops or kitchen, dinnerware shops, or on Master's Teas website.

Have guests with an appreciation of fresh spring green teas? We have just the one for you, from the traditional Dragonwell and Gunpowder to the more exotic Jade Snail and Green Dragon Pearls. Offer a choice!

Go Traditional!

Whether it’s your favorite book club, a meetup for knitting or scrapbooking, anytime is the right time for a traditional European tea party with scones and jam, petit fours, and Earl Grey.

For you thrift shop fans, start we have a shopping list for you: start collecting pretty cloth napkins and tea cups with saucers every time you visit your favorite places. No need for matchy-matchy by color or teacup type. Consider every kind of cup, from demitasse to traditional sizes. We’ve seen them priced from $1-$20, so there’s bound to be a few within any budget. The point is to (1) use them for your guests (2) or, give them as a thank-you for the grand time you’ve had with them. Hint: Use the cloth napkins to wrap up the saucer and plate and put them in a pretty paper bag to protect them on their way home.

To put a twist on this tradition, put a place card of the guest’s name in the teacup; any time they visit, voila, their very own teacup is available.

Adagio offers have many caffeinated and even a decaffeinated selection of Earl Grey. Experiment with several for delicious decadence.