Throw an easy afternoon tea party that will impress.

For those not in the know, afternoon tea and high tea are completely different. Afternoon tea is served to fill the gap between lunch and dinner and traditionally consists of light fare like cakes and cookies. High tea, on the other hand, involves more substantial fare and traditionally happened when workers returned home–it was more like dinner. Over time, the distinctions between the two have blurred, and tea no matter what time of day it’s served, more often than not it takes the form of afternoon tea with tea sandwiches and scones and cream. In the U.S., afternoon tea served between lunch and dinner is the norm, but honestly, the timing is up to you.

And of course, tea is appropriate any time of year, no matter the weather. Want to ice up your tea for the steamy days of summer? Go right ahead. Just make sure you move the party outdoors, under shade for full effect.

From the invitations to the types of tea you serve, get inspired to throw your own afternoon tea with the tips and ideas below.

Afternoon Tea Tip and Ideas

1. Invitation – While it may seem just as easy to send a text or an email as an invitation to your afternoon tea, there is something about a handwritten paper invitation sent via snail mail. It has a certain je ne sais pas that is missing in this digital age. Etsy is a great place to find appropriate choices from luxurious letterpress to clever typographical works of art–it depends on how formal or  informal you want to be. Of course, it’s not completely unacceptable to send a text invite either–at least for a less formal tea among friends.

2. Types of Tea to Serve – Whether you choose Darjeeling, orange pekoe, or Earl Grey, one key for a great afternoon tea is to offer 2-3 options. The choices are up to you, but Earl Grey, orange pekoe, and English Breakfast are traditional options. You can also go farther afield and include herbal teas or blends including rooibos chai, lemon verbena, chamomile, honeybush, or mint for those who might be eschewing caffeine. One pro tip is to make sure that you use loose tea instead of tea bags. Your guests will appreciate your attention to detail, and loose tea is often a better quality of tea. Harney & Sons has a lot of wonderful tea choices.

3. Teapots and Other Teaware  – One necessity of throwing a tea party is you must have several teapots. While you may decide to invest in some fancy decorative teapots, it may be more realistic to invest in functional pots that will also serve for everyday as well. If your teapots don’t include infusers, you will want to invest in small strainers that guests can place over their cups to catch the tea leaves as they pour. Teacups and saucers, a sugar pot, and cream pitcher are a must too. Also, an electric tea kettle can make things so much easier.

4. Tea Sandwiches and Other Nibbles – Ideally, you will want to serve a variety of food options, including sweet and savory choices. Homemade pecan scones topped with homemade strawberry preserves, cucumber or egg salad sandwiches cut into triangles (and with the crusts removed), and a tasty asparagus and feta quiche would make for a delightful menu. Whatever the menu you decide upon it should feel special.

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Afternoon Tea Image from Shutterstock

The post How to Throw a Perfectly Lovely Afternoon Tea Party appeared first on EcoSalon.

The Sorapot is a transparently beautiful way to serve tea – as long as it’s not made with unsightly bags.

Over the past few years, tea has gone from a drink best known as beloved by the English in the afternoon, and the Japanese and Chinese at ceremonies, to a dizzying array of healthy, invigorating/relaxing/detoxifying infusions: green, yellow, rooibos, jasmine, chai, mint, camomile, ginseng.

And teapots have gone from simple ceramic structures to pieces of contemporary design in themselves. The Sorapot is an architectural shape made of stainless steel and pyrex, a simple form which allows you to watch the age-old brewing process. As the designer, Joey Roth, puts it: “It articulates the ritual of tea making in a thoroughly modern way.”

The Sorapot makes enough tea for two cups, and comes in two versions: brushed and mirrored. The stainless steel used is made by the same process as jet turbine blades and space shuttle components. Its packaging, however, is less high-tech, contrasting with the hard grey metallic object contained inside: the pot comes encased in post-consumer recycled cardboard and moulded pulp, fastened with natural jute rope.

Version II of the Sorapot  is currently being developed, and is sure to be as popular as the original, which is priced at $200 for brushed and $250 for polished – if you’re lucky enough to get a hold of one, as they’re hard to come by. Keep your eyes peeled, and start thinking about the most visually-impressed dried ingredients to showcase in this mesmerizing window.

The post The Sorapot: A Transparent Way to Brew Tea appeared first on EcoSalon.