The Sunshine Party Studio
If you're a Steampunk, Victorian or Tea fan you will love this!
Sounds Of Steam is an online Steampunk radio show.
Funny and very interesting hosts Travis I. Sivart and Christopher M. Hall
are a pair you won't want to miss!
Their show is on every Monday night via http://www.wightpartyradio.com
Tonight is the continuation of the "Tea 101" episode I help host on
January 7th. We will explore and learn which foods are better with what tea, table manners, etiquette during tea parties and medicinal advantages of tea. We will also talk about the mixes of alcohol and tea...not your typical Long Island Tea!
I wanted to add some Tea Party ideas, decor, drinks, food and more on this blog.
So whether you read this or listen to the show, you will have a better understanding of a Tea Party!
Tea Party History:
The original tea party began as an “afternoon tea” by royal Britain’s Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. Anna started drinking tea and having to eat light refreshments when she became hungry in the afternoons. In Britain, breakfast and dinner were served at the same time. The Duchess started to invite her friends to join her, becoming the "afternoon tea" tradition. Mostly served between 3 and 5pm, "afternoon tea" (sometimes referred to as “low tea”) is very different from “high tea,” during which a more hearty meal was eaten at around 5:30 or 6pm, by working classes.
There are three types of "afternoon tea" that differ by the foods served. Next to tea, Cream tea offers fresh baked scones served with clotted cream and/or jam. Light tea features teas, scones and sweets. Last, full tea has a smorgasbord of tea, sandwiches or appetizers, scones, and a variety of desserts including cookies, cakes and pastries.
At an "afternoon tea", the tea table is usually set around a lovely centerpiece. For a more formal or evening tea, you can add guest place cards. In Victorian times, silver ware were tradition. They had small salad plates, with the tea cup atop of a saucer which was set directly to the right. They would set a single fork on the left side of the plate, one knife and one spoon on the right. Also a water glass is placed above the knife. There was cream, sugar, and a plate of lemon slices as well as a tea pot. Food was on a buffet table, on a tiered stand at the tea table, or brought out in courses by a server.
Tea Etiquette
Tip #1: Milk in Tea- Add milk to the teacup before the tea is poured.
Note: Do not use lemon in your tea to avoid curdling of the milk.
Tip #2: Holing a Tea Cup- Hold the handle of the teacup using your thumb and your first one or
two fingers.
Note: People sometimes tilt their pinky upwards to balance the cup. But no pinky up
necessary.
Tip #3: How to sip your Tea -You must take small, quiet sips of your tea. No slurping.
Note: Do "NOT" blow on the tea if it is too hot!
Tip #4: Only hold your tea cup if drinking tea, whenever you're not, place the cup back on the saucer
or small plate.
Tip #4: Tea Napkin- The napkin goes on your lap and never on the table.
Note: If you leave the table put the napkin in your seat.
Tip #5: Small Bites- It is fine to eat most of the foods with your fingers by taking small bites.
Note: Do use a fork when trying to eat messy foods.
Planning a Tea Party
First things 1st!
Are you doing a traditional Tea Party or a Modern Tea party?
What's it's the occasion? Birthday, Bridal Shower, Baby Shower? etc..
You can't control the weather, so the best thing to so is knowing what season you're in and
if it will be an indoor or outdoor party.
Secondly,
once the previous have been planned you must start a list of guest.
Make sure you know WHO you're inviting. You must keep in consideration
what, where or will will add stress to your Tea Party.
You can save money by making invitations on your computer.
Having them send with RSVP at least 2-3 weeks in advance will help
with the food and seating budget.
Tip: If doing a theme party or any specific attire wanted please
let your guest know in your invite.
Now lets talk about decorations.
Like I mention before, the season and place where the Tea Party will be
will help you find the perfect flower arrangements, decor and more!
Here are some Seasonal flowers for example but don't forget to
visit your local flower shop fro more in season flowers.
Spring Tea Party- Belladonna/Naked Lady,
Birds of Paradise , Begonia, Cherry Blossom and
Gardenia.
Summer Tea Party- Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Garden Roses, Hydrangea, Iris and Jasmine.
Autumn Tea Party-
Lily, Lavender, Marigold, Orchid, Queen Anne’s Lace, Rose, Swedish Ivy and
Sweet Pea.
Winter Tea Party-
Poinsettia, Pepper berry, Roses, Star of Bethlehem, Acashia, Gerbera Daisy and
Casa Blanca Lily.
Flowers make great centerpieces, decorations and more.
But what else is out there? Depending on our theme, you can add theme related items.
You can add live music, a wine tasting, crafts, games, contest and much much more!
Another decorating you can add is matching tea sets, several tea pots with different teas.
Examples:
Masks, if having a masquerade Tea Party
Eat me cookies, for a Wonderland Tea Party
Mason Jars for a Country Tea Party
Alcohol and Tea Drinks
Lets be honest, adults do love their alcohol at parties, and you tea party doesn't have to be the exception! You can make easy alcoholic tea drinks for your party.
Here are some ideas and recipes.
Rum, Vodka, Cognac, Wishky, Gin, Brandy anything you like!
Rum, Burbon, Vodka goes well with Black tea.
Honey liquior goes well with green and herbal tea.
Hot Tea Grog:
- 1 oz cognac
- 1 oz dark rum
- 1 cup brewed tea
- Several cloves
- 1/2 tsp honey
- Pinch of nutmeg
Preparation:
Heat tea and other ingredients together in a saucepan (except alcohol) pour in after the ingredients are out of the heating pan. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick.
- 1 tbs loose tea, or 1 tea bag
- 1 oz whisky
- 1 oz milk or cream
- 1 tsp sugar
Preparation:
Brew tea in hot water for 3-5 minutes, then strain out tea. Add whiskey and other ingredients, then serve.
- 3 oz Schnapps
- 3 oz rum
- 6 oz water
- Juice from one orange
- 1 tea bag (black)
Preparation:
Heat ingredients together in a saucepan until boiling (except alcohol). Let simmer for 5 minutes, (Add alcohol), then serve. There is also:
Green Tea Martini: Grand Marnier, Vodka, Lemon, Green/chilled Tea.
Apple Chai Martini: Rooibos Chai, Muddled Gala Apple and Vodka.
To find more alcohol and tea recipes like s these go to: http://coffeetea.about.com/
Tea Party Food
In a Tea Party you should always have your small bites food. Just as,
Prosciutto sandwiches. There is also cucumber and mint sandwiches, chicken
salad, noodles salad, raisin scones, Madeleine's, biscuits, cupcakes and
cookies. Fresh fruit! Here are some cupcake baking ideas and recipes.
To be able to bake with tea, you must first make tea infused butter.
Tea Infused Butter:
1 cup of butter makes about 3/4 cup of tea infused butter. You'll need about 2 grams (or approximately 1 1/2 teaspoons) of whole-leaf tea per tablespoon of butter.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter until just liquid.
- Add the tea leaves.
- Continue heating the mixture for about 5 minutes on low heat.
- Remove from the heat and allow to stand for another 5 minutes or until the butter is discernibly tinted by the tea leaves.
- Pour the mixture through a fine sieve, pressing hard on the tea leaves and then discarding them. This is the part where you will undoubtedly end up with some butter that you can't get off of the leaves. I encourage you to press as hard as you can, but not to obsess about lost butter - it's for a good cause.
- Let the butter come to room temperature and then use it as you would regular butter in your baked goods.
...Now to start baking!!!
Peach Tea Cupcakes: All I can smell is the fresh country and the sound of cowgirl boots. I do believe this tea infused cupcakes will take you there! For recipes go to: http://www.pauladeen.com/
Jasmine Cupcakes with Raspberry and Honey frosting: Jasmine infused butter, raspberry vinegar, cream cheese, honey and more! For full recipe go to: www.cupcakeproject.com
For Tea Pots and Tea brewing:
Cast iron tea pots-
Are long lasting, a small pot helps with heat retention, releases the flavor of
older brews into the new brew. These iron pots are better with pur-er, black
and herbal tea.
Glass tea pots-
These are good for white, greens and oolong. Can be very hot, they can let you
know the color and flavor of your tea. They have a slight indention in the tip
of the spout that facilitates pouring in a non slipping way.
Ceramic Tea Pots- These
should be used in low fire. They have natural heat retention properties, they
brew the leaves quickly. You may
need a timer to check the temp.
White Teas- 165F (Before Boiling)
Green Teas- 170-185F
(Just as steam leaves the sprout)
Oolong Teas- 180-205F
(After cooling for a few off boil)
Black Tea- 205F (After
cooling for a minute off boil)
Pur-erh Tea- 212F
(when boiling)
At the end of the day, the tea party is all up to the host or hostess.
Most tea parties are a stress free environment but you can turn them into a fun,
game and contestsparty!
You have endless selection whether is a traditional or non traditional Tea Party!
For more fun decor and tea set go to: http://www.victoriantradingco.com/
Don't forget to add Mad Hatter Tea to your tea party!
madhattertea.co.uk
All photos are from Yahoo! Images
For Sounds of Steam info go to: Their site http://soundsofsteam.com/
On Twitter @SoundsOfSteam
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SoundsOfSteam
