IT'S TEATIME
Enjoy a pleasant afternoon
interlude with friends
By DIANE GOTTSMAN
Photography by ROBERT FRENCH
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the summer, enduring chiggers from camping, scraped knees from rock climbing and mediocre airline food from your summer travels.
The children are back in school, and all that “summer fun” has worn you out. Now that school is in session, you can look forward to a whole new menu of class fund-raisers, children’s birthday parties, Boy Scouts, Brownie Troops, piano lessons, basketball practice, etc., etc, etc.
Maybe it’s time for some much needed “Girlfriend Time.” Whether it is for a couple of hours or a week-end getaway, planning some time to relax with friends may be just what the doctor ordered. My personal favorite is hosting a tea — perhaps a “Celebration of Friendship Tea” or “Fall Tea” or “We Love Them Dearly BUT Thank Goodness the Kids Are Back in School Tea.” (You probably can tell I need a little respite.) So let’s dust off the china, polish up the silver, put your pinkies down (another tea myth), and let’s have a tea party!
Taking tea is synonymous with civility and serenity and holds an endearing quality of charm and tradition. Legend has it that 4,000 years ago, a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, was waiting for his pot of water to boil, when the leaves from a branch burning in his fire fell into his pot. The resulting brew tasted good, and he ordered his servant to identify the branch and cultivate more of it.
The branch was from a wild tea plant called Camellia Senensis, an evergreen that can reach a height of anywhere from 15 to 30 feet. The plant enjoys hot days, cool nights and heavy rainfall. The first one or two leaves on the end of each twig are where the finer teas are derived, and the processing determines the differences in flavor and color. The Camellia Sinensis plant produces black, oolong, green and white tea.
A little known tea tidbit is that herbal tea is not really tea at all. It is not produced from the Camellia Sinensis plant, but is a blend of herbs that are processed and flavored.
It all starts with the invitation. Choose a card that will reflect the tone of your tea — formal, frilly, fun? Send out the invitation at least two weeks in advance, further out if your friends have busy schedules. Don’t forget the basics: who, what, where and when, and don’t forget to add any special requests such as “Wear your favorite hat” or “Bring a favorite recipe.” “Regrets only” is generally not as effective as the standard RSVP.
Your tea table is the focal point of the tea party and also a reflection of your personal style and taste. Decorate the table with your favorite serving pieces, using heights, shapes and materials that will add interest. Don’t worry if you don’t own a complete set of china — mixing and matching adds a special touch.
Traditional teatime fare consists of tea sandwiches, which are eaten first to blunt the appetite, scones (a simple biscuit that is often made with currants) and finally pastries, tarts and cookies. It’s a great idea to have your friends bring their favorite sweet to place on the table and share the recipe, as well.
The proper time for tea is between 3 and 5 o’clock, but what is most important is to have your tea party at a time that is convenient for your friends.
Black Tea — Black tea is called fermented tea. It is a strong tea that is good with milk, sugar and lemon.
Oolong Tea — Oolong tea is partially fermented, a process that prepares the tea for drinking. It is not quite as strong a tea, paler in color and finer in grade. Oolong teas are taken without milk, sugar or lemon.
Green Tea — Green tea is not fermented, leaving the leaves a natural dark olive green color. The most healthful of teas, it retains the natural tannin, vitamin C, chlorophyll and minerals. Green teas are taken without milk or lemon.
White Tea — Very rare and processed between green and oolong tea.
High Tea — The most misunderstood ceremony in the tea tradition. The term “high” is often mistaken for a formal tea. On the contrary, high tea is nothing more than a working man’s supper, similar to a hearty family meal.
Afternoon Tea — The most popular tea, served between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m. The hours may be extended a touch in either direction. This service calls for three courses consisting of small sandwiches, scones, pastry and your choice of tea.
Light Tea — The menu calls for scones, sweets and your choice of tea.
Full Tea — A four-course menu, which includes sandwiches, scones, pastry and dessert, along with your choice of tea.
Cream Tea — Scones, jam, clotted cream and tea are served.
Royal Tea — The menu is the same as a Full Tea with a glass of champagne or sherry served along with the tea.
Do try each course that is served.
Do take small bites and avoid talking with your mouth full.
Do look into, not over, the cup when drinking.
Do be a good guest and mingle.
Do wait until you have swallowed your food in your mouth before taking a sip of tea.
Do send a thank-you note within 24 hours of the tea.
Do excuse yourself if you must remove something from your teeth.
Do tell someone if they have something in their teeth.
Don’t shake your napkin out like you’re flagging a taxi.
Don’t place personal items (i.e., gloves, purses or tiaras) on the table.
Don’t touch your face or head at the tea table.
Don’t extend your little pinkie. (Yes, that’s right. Extending the pinkie does not reflect your good breeding – it’s actually considered bad manners.)
Don’t reach across the tea table to swoop in for the last scone.
Don’t gesture with utensils in your hand.
Don’t make clanking noises with your teaspoon.
Don’t place your empty teacup back on the tea table.
Most importantly, enjoy the opportunity to spend special time with your true and trusted girlfriends. A tea is just one way to share friendships and inspire each other.
Knowing the tea rules is great, but biting into a gooey chocolate tart while laughing, enjoying each others’ stories and sharing a cup of tea with your best friends is even better. Enjoy!
