Tea Time: Serving & Etiquette

Contents:

Serving & Etiquette

Afternoon Tea array There should be a designated "pourer" before a tea service begins. The "pourer" can keep an eye on cups to ensure they remain full. Tea should be kept about 3/4 of the way from the top of the cup, which allows the pourer to ask if the guest would like sugar, lemon or milk. It is not recommended to use cream with hot tea; it tends to curdle in the hot brew and masks the true flavor of the tea. However, if cream is pre-warmed before being added to hot tea, it is perfectly acceptable.

If the tea service is buffet-style, allow guests to choose their own food from the buffet table. Another rather elegant way to serve tea edibles is to load a trolley and go to each guest individually, allowing them to select their preferred foods.

Tea Etiquette

There are definite standards for "tea etiquette" in various circles. Below are some of the more entertaining rules:

Rise to greet your guests, and shake hands with them.
Try a little of each course offered.
Take small bites of food so you can still converse politely.
Spread your biscuit or muffin first with jam or jelly, and then the cream.
Look into your cup of tea while drinking.
Don't extend your pinkie finger when drinking from your teacup.
Don't place your napkin on the table until you are ready to leave.
Don't gesture with utensils while speaking.
Don't touch your face or head during teatime.
When stirring your tea, don't let the spoon bang against the sides of the cup.
Don't sip your tea from the stirring spoon.
After stirring, place your spoon on the right side of the saucer next to the cup.
Swallow your food before you sip your tea.

Some of the rules may seem a bit antiquated and unrealistic. However, as we live in an era of hustle and bustle and rudeness, it is refreshing to treat others with kind courtesy and to perhaps learn a few of the social rules of an age gone by.

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