Afternoon Tea Party Menu Ideas With A Printable Tea Guide

What is a typical afternoon tea menu? Afternoon tea party menu comprise of a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes, and one of scones or teacakes. You can also throw in pastries, biscuits, or petits fours.

Planning an afternoon tea party menu can be so much fun! The tea party can be outdoors or indoors and is a fun way to spend time with friends while drinking tea. Begin with an intimate afternoon tea party, inviting two to four girlfriends. Send elegant or fun afternoon tea party invitations. If special costuming (fancy, fun, or lovely hats) is desired, include this information. An RSVP request adds special importance to the occasion.

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How To Host An Afternoon Tea Party

For a light afternoon tea, between 12:00 pm and 1 pm or 3 pm to 4 pm is a good starting time. Pick a pretty, comfortable spot for the tea. If the weather is warm, an outdoor party might be nice, preferably in a garden setting. If indoors, find a cozy spot, perhaps near a glowing fireplace or in a pretty dining nook. Locate seating for guests. Folding chairs are fine if they are sturdy and comfortable. Otherwise, nice dining chairs are best. Have plenty of table space for displaying and serving treats, a low centrepiece, and room for guests to rest their teacups and services.

Table Settings for Afternoon Tea

This is the time to unpack Grandmother’s special china and linens or a charming “mix and match” of eclectic shabby-chic items. If teacups are unavailable, request each guest bring her own cup and saucer. It can be an entertaining icebreaker to compare styles and patterns of china. When planning in advance, seek out yard and estate sales to collect interesting teacups, saucers, teapots, and table linens for low prices.

Tea party supplies for adults include a teapot to steep tea, sugar bowl, creamer, and serving dishes. Besides their cup and saucer, each guest will need a small teaspoon, a fabric napkin, and a dessert-sized plate. Dessert forks may be required as well if cake or trifle are on the menu. Also remember pretty utensils for cutting and serving treats and dipping into delicious toppings. Fresh flowers, small flickering candles, and soft music always create an enchanting affect. Also consider seasonal, personal, or other themes as inspiration for decorating the gathering. Place cards are another sweet touch.

There are also many tea stores that supply teatime treats or sell teapots and tea cups.

Books For A Tea Party

To tea or not to tea! Some highly rated tea party books to read in preparation of your party include:

• Afternoon Tea Serenade: Cookbook with Music CD
• A Tea Party For All Seasons
• The Official Down Abbey Afternoon Tea Cookbook

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What To Serve For an Afternoon Tea

The afternoon tea party menu should consist of a quality English tea, of course. Earl Grey is a tasty standard, but flavoured teas can also be very nice. Offer a variety of teas like chai, peppermint, camomile, fruit, herbal and, of course, English Breakfast. Iced tea such as Thai Iced Tea, Fresh Peach Ice Tea, or Raspberry Mint Iced Tea are a welcome addition to an afternoon tea party.

As an added bonus, I am sharing below a printable tea guide to use for your tea party! Simple click on the photo to download.

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Provide additions to complement the chosen beverage(s), such as milk, sugar cubes, honey, and lemon slices. You can also serve lemon curd and Devonshire cream or clotted cream to your tea party guests. These are usually added to the tea after it is poured into the teacups, so they need to be on the dining table.

Afternoon Tea Party Menu

Range of foods found on afternoon tea party menus can be as simple as a beautiful wedge of cake or a few charming tarts or cookies. Lovely light sandwich triangles and other finger foods before the sweets add extra sustenance.

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Recipes for Afternoon Tea Sandwiches

Tea party sandwiches are so easy to make! Most tea sandwiches offered on the afternoon tea party menu usually consists of cucumber, egg, chicken, or salmon with cream cheese. You can prepare the filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the sandwiches before your friends arrive to the tea party. If you prepare them too early, they might go soggy or dry out. Don’t forget to remove the crust!

How many sandwiches per person for afternoon tea?

For an afternoon tea, I would recommend 4 little sandwiches per person and offering 3 different kinds to your guests.

• Fancy Tea Sandwiches: Tarragon Chicken Salad and More
• Easiest Cucumber Sandwiches 
• Simple Open Face Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
• 2 Easy Recipes for Tea Sandwiches: Chicken and Vegan Options
• BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato) Tea Sandwiches
• English Tea Finger Sandwiches
• Tea Sandwiches Three Ways
• Afternoon Tea Sandwiches (Cucumber, Egg and Cress, Smoked Salmon)
• Tea Sandwiches {Perfect for an Afternoon Tea}
• Vegetable Sandwich

Tea Party Scones and Teacakes Recipes

A must item on the afternoon tea party menu are scones! Fresh homemade scones are always so tasty! You can also make some ahead of time and freeze the scones or buy some at a local bakery shop the day of the afternoon tea party. Serve scones warm and have jam and Devonshire or clotted cream available to spread.

• English Tea Cakes
• Orange and Earl Grey Teacakes
• Lemon Poppyseed Scones
• Strawberry White Chocolate Scones
• The Ritz of London’s Afternoon Tea Scones
• Lemon Blueberry Scones
• Easy Scone Recipe for National Cream Tea Day
• Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Scones 
• Air Fryer Cherry Scones 
• Vegan Pumpkin Scones
• Afternoon Tea Scones
• Keto Blueberry Scones

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Recipes of Jams

Jams and jellies as well as fruity preserves are so a delicious spread over scones.

• Healthy Homemade Summer Mixed Berry Jam
• Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
• Blueberry Jam Recipe Without Pectin
• Easy Raspberry Jam
• Easy Fig Jam Recipe
• Apple and Pear Jam
• Apricot and Vanilla Jam
• Cherry Jam Without Pectin
• Blackberry Freezer Jam 
• Pectin-Free Peach Jam with Cinnamon and Vanilla

Best Biscuits Recipes Ever

A delicious food you must add to your afternoon tea party menu are biscuits. There are a wide range of biscuits that you can choose from to serve at your tea party such as shortbreads, cookies, and more!

• Lemon Shortbread
• Spring Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
• Blueberry Biscuits with Lemon Glaze
• Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies
• Lemon Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
• Sweet Glazed Blueberry Biscuits
• Easy Tea Biscuits With Cream
• Brown Sugar Brown Butter Shortbread Cookies

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Pastries Recipes For Afternoon Tea Party

These pastry or pâtisserie recipes are more time consuming to make than scones. I would recommend making them the day before your afternoon tea and keep them in the refrigerator until ready to serve. They will certainly enhance your afternoon tea party menu!

• Mini Chocolate Tarts
• Bakewell Tarts
• Cannoli Cups
• Chocolate Macarons with Toffee Recipe
• The Best Lemon Meringue
• Strawberry Tarts
• Mini Fruit Tartlets
• Instant Pot Creme Brulée
• Fruit Tarts (Jam Tea Tarts)
• Low-Carb Flourless Orange Madeleines
• Passion Fruit and Lemon Meringue Tartlets
• Mini Pink Eclairs

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Cakes for Afternoon Tea

It is best to serve cake slice or individual size small cake portions in a tier at the afternoon tea.

• Earl Grey Lavender Cake
• Low Carb Petit Fours
• Easy Petit Fours
• Mini Naked Cakes Filled with Sweet and Tangy Orange Marmalade
• Honey Cakes
• Buttermilk Petit Fours
• British Yorkshire Parkin Cake
• A Classic Victoria Sandwich

Preparing an afternoon tea party menu a few days before guests arrive leaves time for visiting and creating an atmosphere of gentility and friendship the day of the tea party. Remember to sit back and enjoy the fellowship, good talk and delightful tea party food. A charming tea with friends is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.