Habiba Tunau MD

Who doesn’t love a great Tea Party !  Here are the Tea Party recipes from my “Afternoon Tea Party” video on youtube.  As you may know I love hosting a good party or setting a beautiful table even if it’s only for my children.   A Tea Party can be set up for two or ten people,  It’s up to you.  In fact feel free to have a tea party for one and make yourself feel special !  An Afternoon Tea Party should feel like a luxury and special occasion where you allow yourself or guests to indulge in elegant and beautifully presented crustless sandwiches, scones, dainty cakes and other desserts . 

Before I list a few recipes inspired by British tradition here are a few TIPS and essential  ITEMS  you may need to host your next Tea Party or even brunch :

Tips: 

1. Plan your menu and budget ahead!  I usually write out a menu a few  days ahead and check my pantry and fridge to see what items I may need to buy.   Also some things like clotted cream, sugar cubes and  pastry dough can be made a day in advance to save time and money!  If you have ever tried to buy sugar cubes nowadays it is very expensive and so is clotted cream ! 
2. Consider your location.  Will you host your party indoors or outdoors ? I love a garden party but it may be too hot or too cold. Do you have to worry about rain, mosquitoes or other bugs ?
3. Buy your flowers for your table the day before and consider the vase you will use.  Is it the right size, shape or color?   If you can’t afford to buy fresh flowers or none are readily available  consider a few cut branches from a hedge or tree outside.   I am not a fan of fake/artificial  flowers but that certainly is an option.  Also keep in mind your flowers should complement your table and not overpower the presentation of your food which is the real star!  If the flowers will be in the center of the table keep them at a height that does not block the faces of your guests. Instead of a large vase you may choose to use one or multiple small bud vases.
4. If you don’t have fancy china or matching tea sets, plates and cutlery feel free to visit a local  thrift shop or second hand shop for some fun and inexpensive finds!  I love the thrill of a good hunt at a thrift store.  Not all your plates or cups have to match, they just need to be pretty and in good condition.  I prefer fine china or bone china  and have learned to recognize them by looking  on the underside of the item for the mark and also by their overall feel when compared to cheap glass.
5. Do you have a nice tablecloth in the right size for your table?  A simple crisp clean white table cloth would be ideal but you can certainly use a floral pattern or even vintage lace for a shabby chic look or garden theme.
6.  White linen or cotton napkins are ideal for your tea party but if you don’t have any then consider buying white fabric , having it cut and stitched.   Here in the USA where things are less formal a variety of paper napkins are readily available.  I love buying pretty paper napkins to suit my theme from discount stores like T.J.MAXX or Tuesday Morning .   
7. When setting the table place your plates in line with the chair.  Each plate and piece of cutlery should be about an inch from the edge of the table- which is roughly about the distance from your knuckle to the edge or tip of your thumb. Your knife blades should face inward towards the plate. 
8. A tea party should be elegant but also a fun way to socialize and a good excuse to dress up !  When it comes to the food you don’t have to stick to formal british traditions if you don’t want to.  Consider adding your traditional  or locally sourced foods, seasonal fruit and dessert.  A tea party much like a brunch can have different themes based on your favorite holiday celebration, season or even story book. I have seen some pretty elaborate “Mad hatter” and “Alice in wonderland”  themed tea parties.  In fact since I live in North Carolina I am thinking of hosting my family to a Southern inspired tea party and serving sweet tea,  southern biscuits instead of scones  and fried chicken! Obviously this would not be adhering to the  british tea party culture but fun and fancy nonetheless.  
9. Don’t forget the tea!  Consider having a variety of options if you plan to have guests.  English Breakfast tea is popular and served with milk.  Earl grey and Green tea are all good options.  Consider herbal teas like Peppermint, Chamomile, lemon or Ginger for those who do not like caffeine .  If you are planning to be formal consider  loose tea versus tea in a tea bag. 
10.  You do not have to make all the food.  I suggest you make the sandwiches fresh the day of your event and  buy the scones and desserts from your local bakery or supermarket the day before.  For example my daughter and  I love french macarons and they are the perfect complement to any tea party but I have not perfected making them yet and prefer the ease of buying them ready made.    

Items you may need for your Tea Party:

( Besides the food of course )

 Kettle to boil water

Teapot ( consider having more than one if you are serving different teas )

Milk and sugar containers

Cups and saucers

Tea time plates ( smaller than dinner plates and larger than saucers ) 

Cutlery : teaspoons, knives, forks, spoons for dessert or fruit

Tongs for sugar cubes if you want to be really fancy

Tea Strainer assuming you are using loose tea

Optional salt and pepper shaker.  (Look out for the vintage silver kind at your local thrift shop) 

Butter dish

Small bowls or containers  to serve your strawberry Jam, orange marmalade and clotted cream. Also small bowl or container for lemon wedges  and optional honey. 

Bowl for sugar cubes 

Tiered plates and or cake stand.  ( If you don’t have a tiered dessert or cake stand it is ok to  just use a pretty serving plate)   

Napkins

Table cloth

Vase

Flowers 

                                        EASY RECIPES  

DIY SUGAR CUBES  

Ingredients :  2 cups of White granulated sugar 

                      1 cup of  icing sugar

                      3 teaspoons of  Water

Mix ingredients in a large bowl.  It should not be too wet, be able to crumble and yet clump once held in your hands.  If it is too wet you may add more sugar.

Press the sugar dough into a meat loaf type pan or at least a  rectangular baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper.  The pan should be at least 3 cm deep.   Press the sugar dough down evenly until it is very compact.  You can use your hand, a spatula or a potato crusher.   Once the sugar dough is nicely compact ( don’t forget the edges )  cut with a sharp thin knife starting length wise.  Then cut across into cubes.

Preheat the oven to 120 degrees fahrenheit  ( or on lowest setting ) and leave sugar cubes for one hour.  Remove pan from oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes .  Tap the pan on a hard surface to loosen and remove cubes. 

If you have more time and are making the sugar cubes a few days in advance an optional method does not require the oven.  Simply make the sugar dough and form into cubes as above and store in a very dry room for at least 12-24 hours.  Once dry you should have nice clean edge sugar cubes.   Store cubes in a cool dry pantry.  

If you want to be extra fancy feel free to add real vanilla drops,  rose water or other flavor to the sugar dough before mixing .  You can also add a few drops of food safe color  to the sugar dough before mixing as well to carry your theme. For example light pink or yellow sugar cubes can be very pretty; although personally I like the plain classic white sugar cubes that remind me of my childhood . 

DIY CLOTTED CREAM 

Ingredients : 1 pint heavy whipping cream

Pour cream into a shallow pyrex dish or oven safe dish.  Place the dish into a preheated oven at 175-200 degrees Fahrenheit  ( very low heat )  and bake overnight  for 12 hours !  It is best to bake this 1-2 nights before your event.    After 12 hours of baking take out your pan of clotted cream and let it cool to room temperature.  It will have formed a yellow to orange color skin on top which is normal.  Resist the urge to taste or stir it.   Once cream is cool, place it in the fridge for another 8 hours covered with plastic wrap.   After 8 hours  your cream is ready  as soon as you drain off the liquid leaving a thick decadent cream under the crust !  ( The liquid you drained can be used to make scones or other baked goods) 

 Spoon the cream into a serving bowl and enjoy it with your scones ! 

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich  

One cucumber 

Apple cider vinegar (Optional)

Whipped Cream cheese

Zest of lemon

Salt 

Pepper

Chopped fresh dill

At least 4 slices of your favorite bread ( Regular white bread, brown bread or even brioche bread is fine)

In a bowl mix the cream cheese with zest of lemon, salt, pepper and dill.  You can use a fork, hand whisk or electric mixer for a fluffy consistency.  Peel the cucumber leaving thin strips of the skin on for color and texture.  Spoon on your cream cheese mixture onto the bread and spread leaving the edges.  Add a thin layer of cucumber slices and then add the second piece of bread to close your sandwich .  Cut off the edges with a sharp knife  and then cut into 3-4 even sized rectangular sandwiches / bars .   

Optional:  place the cucumber slices into  a ½ cup of vinegar for a few minutes . Drain the cucumber slices by letting them sit on a paper towel  and then use in the sandwich for a pickled cucumber taste.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich  

Ingredients :  Smoked Salmon

                      Whipped cream cheese

                      Zest of lemon

                     Chopped fresh dill

                     Salt 

                     Pepper 

                    At least 4 slices of your favorite bread. 

( I like to use brown bread for the flavor and contrast in color)  

Mix the whipped cream cheese and seasoning with a whisk  till light and fluffy.  Spoon the whipped cream onto the bread before adding the smoked salmon.  Instead of a closed sandwich you can also  make this an open face dainty round  sandwich by cutting it with a biscuit  or scone cutter.   Feel free to garnish the open faced sandwich with a piece of dill or piping on some of the cream cheese. 

Chicken Salad Sandwich  

Ingredients :  Seasoned baked chicken breast or seasoned boiled chicken breast. 

                   2  tablespoons of mayonnaise

                        1  tablespoon of dijon mustard

                        ½ cup chopped fresh grapes or chopped fresh cranberries 

                        Fresh water crest 

Shred the seasoned chicken breast and mix in the mayonnaise, dijon mustard and chopped fruit. Spoon the chicken breast mixture on to a slice of your favorite bread and add a layer of water crest .  Add the second slice of bread. You may butter the bread first if you choose.  Cut off the crusts and slice into 4 even bars. 

Egg Salad Sandwich  

Ingredients :  4 boiled sliced eggs

                      2 tablespoons of soft butter

                      1 tablespoon of Mayonnaise

                      Paprika

                      Salt 

                      Pepper 

                      Fine diced fresh chives ( optional) 

In a bowl mix all the ingredients well and then spoon unto your choice of bread.  Make a sandwich and cut into  3-4  even bars . Simple and delicious

Avocado Shrimp Sandwich 

Ingredients:  At least 8 boiled shrimp

                    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

                    1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

                    Salt 

                    Black pepper and or  cayenne pepper 

                    Chopped coriander

                    2 tablespoons of fresh chopped chives

                    1 fresh avocado 

 Coarsely chop your cooked shrimp .  In a bowl mix your shrimp. Lemon juice,  chives, spice and mayonnaise .  In a second bowl mash your avocado with a few drops of lemon juice.  Spoon shrimp mixture onto a slice of bread. On the second piece of bread spoon on some of the mashed avocado.  Bring both slices together to cover the sandwich.  Remove the crusts and cut into 4 even bars.  

Here is a childhood favorite :

Sardine Sandwich

Ingredients:  1-2 cans of sardines 

                      I squeeze of lemon

                      Pepper

                      Paprika

                      Thyme

                      1-2 tablespoons of Mayonnaise  

                      Diced ¼  an onion or scallions 

                      Lettuce

                      Sliced tomato

                      Sliced cucumber 

In a bowl mix the sardines with the lemon, spice and mayonnaise to form a paste.  Spoon sardine paste unto your bread of choice.  White bread, brown bread or even fresh bread would be fine.  Add a layer of lettuce, tomato and cucumber and cover with a second slice of bread. Cut into a triangle and enjoy.  If you are making this for a formal tea party then I would not use lettuce which may make it harder to close or to cut into neat small bars.  

All the sandwiches can be made a few hours before you need them.  To maintain freshness and keep the bread from drying out, cover the sandwiches with a damp paper towel or clean cloth and place in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

To watch me make the Tea Party Sandwiches and set up the table for an Afternoon tea party & etiquette lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3by55uLrVy8&t=559s

Here is another recipe on the blog you may enjoy: https://www.habibatunaumd.com/healthfoodinspiration/summer-time-treats-easy-diy-food/

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I encourage you to SHARE or SAVE this blog post for your next tea party or brunch .  The recipes , tips and item list  may come in handy in the near future.   If you do use any of these recipes or find the tips helpful please come back and let me know !   

Xoxo – Habiba