Grand Victorian Tea Party

GRAND

VICTORIAN
TEA

“My dear if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head I should better understand your affairs.”

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Pecksniff’s Butter Cookies

Chuzzlewit Chocolate Chip Cookies

Blue Dragon Cupcakes

Scrooge’s Golden Choco-Balls

& other Assorted Treats

Choice of

Earl Grey or English Breakfast

With one lump or two!

  

TEA ETIQUETTE

never:

Never fill your cup to the rim – it will only spill onto the saucer creating a dilemma. Never stir so others can hear it.  Do not allow the teaspoon to touch the sides of the cup. Quietly stir in a little figure-eight motion and place the spoon on the front-side of your cup.

Never cradle the cup with your fingers.

Never swirl the tea around in the cup as if it were a wine glass.

Never-ever bounce the tea bag up and down in your cup to help the steeping process.

Never drain a tea bag by winding the string around a spoon.

Never place your empty cup, saucer and plate back on the tea table when you leave. The tea table is the display for the tea and food and should remain beautiful through the tea time.

ALWAYS:

Always keep your tea cup and saucer close together, do not separate more than 12 inches apart. For example: if you are sitting on a sofa and lean back – pick up your saucer too, or if your stand up, do not leave the saucer sitting on the table. Always hold your saucer (with the teacup) in the palm of your hand at waist level and sip (a silent sip!).

Always pour tea in your cup first in order to judge the strength before sugar. The handle of the spoon and the handle of the cup point to 4 o’clock.

Always take your spoon out of your cup after stirring, then place your spoon in front of your cup

Always request a saucer to hold the used tea bag, sugar wrappers or any disposables used.

Always write your host a thank-you note after the tea party.

Why was tea-drinking so popular during this time period? What is the purpose of etiquette? Do we have similar rules in our contemporary social world?