The items used for serving Afternoon Tea can be either very simple or quite elaborate. The Japanese Tea Ceremony, for example, emphasizes extreme simplicity, including a very sparely decorated environment in the teahouse and the use of humble ceramic cups for the tea. Yet even the very plain hand made Japanese utensils used for making tea have a quiet artistic elegance, always in harmony with the season of the year. In contrast, a British Victorian Afternoon Tea is a complex, highly decorative event encompassing an almost infinite number of specialized pieces of silverware, serving dishes and accouterments of every kind. The Victorian aesthetic may seem busy, fussy and over the top to contemporary tastes, but it has its own historic authenticity based on neo-gothic and rococo influences. And like the understated Japanese Zen influenced aesthetic, the Victorian vision is firmly grounded in a love for nature with a focus on floral, avian and botanical motifs.
We like to be as inclusive as possible in our vision for Afternoon Tea, and our menus reflect a variety of cultures. The choice of utensils, dishes and decorative items to accompany these menus will be guided by the host or hostess’ artistic sensibilities, creative gifts and resources. In this regard we prefer to take the middle path. It is certainly not necessary to buy a Beleek Tea Set or several pieces of antique Waterford crystal to host an Irish Afternoon Tea party. Instead, we urge you to inventory the cups and saucers, dishes, vases, linens and utensils that you already own and use them appropriately.
We hate to see anyone saving the “good china” for a special occasion. Every Afternoon Tea gathering is a special occasion, and everything we own is intended to be used. Be sure to look in the back of the closet and in the old boxes in the garage. You may discover interesting items that you have forgotten. If you find any pieces of silver or crystal among your possessions, polish the silver and use it. Clean the crystal and don’t think about whether it will get chipped or broken. Nothing lasts forever. And please, don’t worry if your old dishes, platters or vases don’t match. You can still create a harmonious effect by combining similar colors or seasonal motifs.
If after looking through all your storage spaces you learn that you have almost nothing that can be used to serve Afternoon Tea, then you can prepare a list of items for future purchase. Start with the basics. Buy a large teapot in white, cream or brown earthenware. Then stay with cream colored or white dishes that can be used in any season or for any occasion. These dishes do not need to be expensive, but do not buy plastic. A basic tea set would include four cups and saucers, four salad sized plates, a matching platter and a set of four cream colored cloth napkins. After that, you can add a matching cream pitcher and sugar bowl to your collection. The rest of the items for serving Afternoon Tea can be selected from the dishes and equipment that you use for everyday meals. And over time you can buy colorful pieces of china with seasonal flowers, colors and motifs that can be mixed with your basic white or cream colored dishes.
We have assembled a list of tea utensils and serving pieces that would be helpful for you to have in preparing an Afternoon Tea. As you become more familiar with the tea ritual, you can add more items that reflect your own interests and tastes.
We like to be as inclusive as possible in our vision for Afternoon Tea, and our menus reflect a variety of cultures. The choice of utensils, dishes and decorative items to accompany these menus will be guided by the host or hostess’ artistic sensibilities, creative gifts and resources. In this regard we prefer to take the middle path. It is certainly not necessary to buy a Beleek Tea Set or several pieces of antique Waterford crystal to host an Irish Afternoon Tea party. Instead, we urge you to inventory the cups and saucers, dishes, vases, linens and utensils that you already own and use them appropriately.
We hate to see anyone saving the “good china” for a special occasion. Every Afternoon Tea gathering is a special occasion, and everything we own is intended to be used. Be sure to look in the back of the closet and in the old boxes in the garage. You may discover interesting items that you have forgotten. If you find any pieces of silver or crystal among your possessions, polish the silver and use it. Clean the crystal and don’t think about whether it will get chipped or broken. Nothing lasts forever. And please, don’t worry if your old dishes, platters or vases don’t match. You can still create a harmonious effect by combining similar colors or seasonal motifs.
If after looking through all your storage spaces you learn that you have almost nothing that can be used to serve Afternoon Tea, then you can prepare a list of items for future purchase. Start with the basics. Buy a large teapot in white, cream or brown earthenware. Then stay with cream colored or white dishes that can be used in any season or for any occasion. These dishes do not need to be expensive, but do not buy plastic. A basic tea set would include four cups and saucers, four salad sized plates, a matching platter and a set of four cream colored cloth napkins. After that, you can add a matching cream pitcher and sugar bowl to your collection. The rest of the items for serving Afternoon Tea can be selected from the dishes and equipment that you use for everyday meals. And over time you can buy colorful pieces of china with seasonal flowers, colors and motifs that can be mixed with your basic white or cream colored dishes.
We have assembled a list of tea utensils and serving pieces that would be helpful for you to have in preparing an Afternoon Tea. As you become more familiar with the tea ritual, you can add more items that reflect your own interests and tastes.
