Check out these helpful tea time tidbits to help you master the art of your next tea party.
Did you know?
Tea comes from the leaves of a tree called Camellia sinensis. Although the tree can grow more than 30 feet tall, it is cut short like a bush so that leaves can be plucked easily when harvesting.
Tea is grown in India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Argentina, Kenya, Japan, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Malawi, Turkey, Iran, Brazil and Tanzania.
80% of caffeine can easily be removed from regular tea by pouring hot water over the leaves.
It has been proven that the consumption of tea may prevent disease and prolong life.
Laborers harvest tea by hand, plucking the leaves, which are then dried and processed.
If you have lace tablecloths that have been yellowed or stained, put a cup of enzyme bleach in a bucket of water and soak the tablecloth for about three days, then wash. Regular bleach can yellow the fragile fabric or cause it to fall apart.
If the inside of your china teapot turns brown from the tea, clean it with bleach. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before using it again.
To clean your silver, try rubbing it with toothpaste. Or you can put aluminum foil in the bottom of the sink, fill the sink with warm water and add a cup of Tide laundry detergent. (Other kinds do not work.) Put all the silver pieces in water on the foil and let set for 8 to 12 hours or overnight. Your silver should be tarnish free.
It was Queen Victoria who popularized the custom of taking afternoon tea. Sponge cake was the Queen's favorite sweet, served with a layer of strawberry jam and whipped cream.
Queen Victoria also popularized the custom of drinking tea with a slice of lemon. She had been visiting her eldest daughter, the Princess Royal, in Russia when she picked this up.
During the Queen's reign, even the humblest working-lass people observed teas with beautiful, translucent tea sets that had teapots hand-painted with the inscription, "God Bless Our Queen."
 | Revive the lost art of afternoon tea parties through the history of the British practice, delicious recipes and teatime manners. |
 | As we know, the act of having a tea became popular during the Victorian days. Most of us, when thinking of teas, think of all the Victorian printed linens and dainty flowered patterns on the china. The table elaborately set with the delicate doilies and the shiny silver servers. |
 | Children love tea parties! Not only do they get to dress up, they get to play tea party games and pretend they're all grown up. |
Has your daughter been hosting elaborate tea parties with her favorite stuffed animals? You can turn her imaginary parties into reality by planning a tea party for her next birthday. By inviting her friends and asking them to bring their stuffed pals, she will be able to have the real-life tea party she's always dreamed of. |
Try these ideas or use them as inspiration to create tea party favors that are elegant, kid-friendly and affordable. |
