In the last few weeks, I’ve held conversations and learned of tearooms that are closing or struggling. One closed after eight months. Another’s experiencing a massive drop in numbers served since its opening five years ago. My Google tea news search leads me to articles like this one: Tea shop packs its bags after 3 years. Could the recent surge of tearooms opening in America be a passing fad? Will the tearoom survive the economic downturn? Can the tearoom owner compete in a society of living room-themed Starbucks equipped with wi-fi?
No.
Maybe.
Yes.
No, tea rooms in America are not a passing fad. Tea rooms have taken many forms in America and Europe since the invention of afternoon tea over one hundred and fifty years ago. The history of the tearoom’s development has been chronicled in Tea at the Blue Lantern Inn: A Social History of the Tea Room Craze in America. Pioneered mainly by women entrepreneurs, tea rooms began as an addition to the roadside motels that grew with the motorcar in the early 1900s. Fifty years later, tea rooms came into fashion with the department store, providing women of the upper-middle class a place to gather and socialize during the day. The American tea room at the turn of the 21st-century will be remembered for its draw of the popular Red Hat groups that sprang up practically overnight. Tea rooms may change in form or focus, but providing places for refreshment and socializing are as popular as ever.
Maybe your local tea room will survive the recent economic downturn. It’s a reality many businesses and consumers are currently facing. Most traditional tea rooms serve full teas that cost around 20 dollars. My favorite local tea room charges $21.95 for a full tea. When tax and gratuity are added to the cost, tea for two can cost as much as a very nice dinner for two. The tea rooms that succeed will have to stand out from the rest. Many factors play a part in a tea room’s success including location, menu, pricing, and innovation. But I believe the bottom line for the success of any tea room must include a commitment to excellence. How is the customer service? Is the food freshly purchased and made with unique presentation and flavors? Are the servers trained and well-groomed? How does the tea room move beyond traditional service to engage its customers through education, classes, and events?
Yes, the tea room that commits to this level of excellence CAN compete with a Starbucks saturated society. Tea drinking for health and enjoyment is a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. The tea room that provides consumers tea education, a wide range of price levels for a wider range of consumers, and high quality as described above will succeed.
What am I supposed to serve at a tea party? Afternoon tea is traditionally served at low tables and consists of three courses: dainty sandwiches, scones, and a selection of bite-sized desserts. A luncheon tea is more like a meal and often includes soup, salad, and or quiche. And don’t forget to serve tea, one of the most often overlooked ingredient to a successful tea party. My article, “The Steps to Creating Your Tea Party Menu” will take you through the process step-by-step. If you need to pull something together quickly, “The Secret to a Simple and Quick Tea Party” will help you.
What’s the difference between green, black, and herbal teas? Herbal teas are not made from the tea plant, and are not actual tea, but herb tisanes or infusions. Black and green tea (as well as oolong and white tea) are from the same plant but processed differently. Green tea has been oxidized less than black which results in less caffeine (15mg vs. 40mg per cup). My article, “The Definitions of Different Types of Tea” will provide you with even more specifics.
Where’s the half-and-half? And who was Earl Grey anyway? Half-and-half is too heavy for tea. Tea’s delicate flavor only requires milk for a slightly richer taste. And Earl Grey was Britain’s prime minister in the 1830s. Earl Grey tea is tea that has been flavored with the oil of bergamot, a citrus fruit.
Do I have to wear hat and gloves? No. Afternoon tea came into fashion during the Victorian age, when the English women dressed up completely when in public and when visiting friends. However, to enjoy the beauty of the experience, pull something out to wear besides jeans. Little girls, however, love to wear hats, gloves and lots of bead necklaces when taking tea.
Why aren’t you curling your pinky? Because curling your pinky when drinking your tea is actually an insult to tea drinkers, used to make fun of us and perpetuate the stereotype that we’re uptight and snobby. In contrast, afternoon tea provides an elegant way to relax with friends.
Where do my guests put their soggy tea bags? Nowhere. Don’t use them. Hostesses, tearooms, and restaurants DO NOT make your guests brew their tea at the table! It makes a mess and they will get a lousy cup of tea. Tea needs to be brewed with the water as hot as possible for the type of tea (boiling for black, less hot for green) and covered while steeping; an impossible task if you only place a teapot of hot water and teabags on the table. And who wants a wet teabag on their saucer, creating a puddle that drips every time the guest raises their cup for a sip? Brew the tea in the kitchen first and serve it as hot as possible to your guests at their table, pouring their first cup.
How will I know how to act at a tea party? Just don’t fill your cup to the rim with milk and sugar before tasting the tea and clink the side of the cup with your spoon while stirring your concoction up and you’ll be just fine. Take small sips and bites, ask questions of others more than sharing your own stories and you’ll be a fabulous guest! Relax and enjoy the transporting beauty the afternoon tea party provides.
Lovers of the tradition of afternoon tea mimic a custom that began with Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford. Faced with a fainting feeling mid-afternoon because of England’s late dinner hour, she is said to have asked her butler to bring her bread, butter, and tea around 5pm. She then asked her friends to join her and the social practice spread among the upper-class until its practice was widespread.
What may be even less known than this is that Anna Russell was a contemporary and friend of Queen Victoria who began her reign in 1837. Hence, many tearooms choose a Victorian theme for their decor and ambiance. I will sheepishly admit, I did not connect the historical dots until very recently. For many lovers of afternoon tea are also Jane Austen fans, probably the most well-known individual from the England’s Regency Era. And just in case you didn’t know, the Regency Era came BEFORE the Victorian Era. Most likely, while Jane Austen drank tea (see the book Tea with Jane Austen for more information) she didn’t practice the custom of afternoon tea so many of us have come to enjoy.
I once tried to plan a Jane Austen themed tea based on the book Tea with Jane Austen. The author includes a number of recipes written as they were in the 19th century along with an updated version. But I abandoned the idea because I wanted a menu filled with more traditional afternoon tea fare which was not included. Now I know why. And I know some of you want to try this theme as well, as my search terms show.
So for the historical purists among us, an authentic Austen-themed afternoon tea would be difficult to reproduce. However, your afternoon tea can take on any theme you want. Some of the ways you could incorporate Jane Austen into your theme could be:
with fashion. The empire silhouette is back in style, with a woman’s waist falling directly below her bust. Regency women did not wear corsets or hoop-skirts, smart girls! Now, one would wear hats and gloves and remove the gloves when dining.
with the language of the fan. It is my understanding that the secret messages sent with the fan women carried began before the Victorian era. And it’s just fun.
with music. Mozart was already around!
to provide your guests with a copy of one of Austen’s novels as a party favor. Dover Thrift Editions are extremely reasonable, such as this copy of Mansfield Park.
to invite a dance instructor and ask for instruction in the Cotillion, the dances we see in the Austen-based movies. Even with only girls, this could be great fun.
So while Jane Austen was only eight years older than Duchess Anna, she died forty years before her. It’s possible Ms. Austen was never invited to afternoon tea. Now, Beatrix Potter’s life, on the other hand, was most likely filled with appointments for afternoon tea. And a Beatrix Potter-themed tea would be extremely easy to recreate. Blackberries and chamomile tea, anyone? I was in awe of the number of beautiful tea-related scenes in the recent movie, Miss Potter. This was accurate, since Miss Potter came of age when the Victorian Era and the tradition of afternoon tea were in full swing.
Do you think it matters? How would you incorporate Jane Austen into your afternoon tea party?
Many of you looking to the web for tea party ideas end up here at Tea Party Girl. The top five search terms of all time resulting in over 4200 views to TPG are:
tea party
tea parties
Christmas tea party
tea party food
tea party menu
Now, I find this important for a couple of reasons. First, one of the ways I’ve chosen to address this need is to provide step-by-step seasonal tea party planning guides such as my latest, “The Guide to Planning a Tea Party–Winter Edition“. I can help you think through the steps needed to implement your event and provide some seasonal suggestions for the menu, decorations, music, and tea.
And as a loose-leaf tea lover and drinker in a teabag culture, I hope new visitors to TPG will catch the vision for the role TEA is meant to play in the tea party. If they spend some time here, they can learn a bit about the role tea’s played in history and culture over the millennium. And hopefully they read the article, “The Top Seven Mistakes Tea Drinkers Make” or “The Tea Party’s Most Important Ingredient” and give tea its proper honor at their event.
But the purpose of this article is to encourage the tea party planner to create their tea party their way. In other words, once you’ve mastered some of the basic information on the etiquette, table setting, and brewing of the tea, be sure to use your creative side, experiment, and have fun thinking about how your event can reflect YOU. A tea party is like a wedding in that regard. Yes, there are steps to follow, etiquette to consider, and most brides wear white. But ultimately, you want your uniqueness and heart to permeate your event.
The best event will strike a balance between the art and science, the “how to” and the “want to”. Here’s some examples of what I mean.
Know your style. I prefer the mix and match look. But others, with a more sophisticated style want an all-white table or all the teacups to match. Either works.
Work with your colors. I prefer pastels, cherry reds and pinks, and teal greens. I strongly dislike blue, orange and tomato red. Sometimes I have to get creative around Thanksgiving because I don’t own anything in the traditional colors. Choose what you love over what you think is right.
Serve the food you want. Yes, a cucumber sandwich on white bread with cream cheese is traditional. Scones are usually always served with clotted cream and jam. Are you wanting to use your creativity to produce a beautiful and traditional afternoon tea? Then go for it! But consider food menus apart from tradition, too. How can the food add to your theme? For example, Paris-themed teas are becoming increasingly popular. Do they HAVE cucumbers in Paris? I have no idea. Do some research and plan your menu creatively. An excellent resource for ideas is Tracy Stern’s Tea Party: 20 Themed Tea Parties with Recipes for Every Occasion, from Fabulous Showers to Intimate Gatherings.
Before I had any confidence to host a tea party or any event for that matter, I looked high and low for resources that would tell me exactly what to do. But the events I’ve enjoyed the most are the ones I’ve spent time creatively thinking through. How about you? Do you prefer someone else providing you a step-by-step guide? Or do you allow yourself to imagine how to bring some of your unique creativity to the event? Which method are you the most comfortable with when planning an event?
First, thank you for the comments! I’d love to hear from more of you. Please keep them coming, and let me know the number one struggle you have taking care of your home.
Last Tuesday, Dawnya Sasse of Start a Tea Business dot com interviewed me on a live call with her students for her Online Tea Business Class. It was a thrill to talk about what it’s been like to build this blog and the opportunities blogging can provide for tea businesses. There’s a link below that you can click to listen in, an interview available only to her students and the readers of this blog. If you are interested in starting a tea business, Dawnya’s resources are a great place to start. Thanks to her training, I’m sitting in my own home writing to you instead of floundering in a traditional tea room somewhere. Even if you’re not interested in a tea business, enjoy the interview as a blogger or a fan of Tea Party Girl.
Dawnya Sasse interviews Jenny Wells of Tea Party Girl dot com
Here’s a few other tea party tidbits I’ve been saving up for you:
I’ve been waiting patiently to share these Valentine’s with you. I gave them as a gift to an in-real-life friend first (she also reads this blog and I love surprises!). Not very tea party-ish, but so, so, fun! Especially if you were under eighteen in the 1970s. Be sure to check out superfay’s entire Etsy shop.
Did you know Hugh Grant and I hold something in common? Neither did I. If you don’t know much about Hugh Grant and are the more proper among us, read about the rest of his life at your own risk. But he could be interesting to have tea with, don’t you think?
One of the first blogs I found when I began my own was Risa of The Partea Planner. She lives in beautiful Orange County and runs such a successful event planning business that specializes in tea parties. Risa was featured in this month’s Teatime Magazine with a beautiful photo-rich feature. She shares some of her best tips for hosting a tea party event, from plenty of experience! I highly recommend seeking out a copy of the magazine and reading the article for inspiration and practical advice. But if you can’t get your hands on one, at least visit her blog for some of the pictures. The flowers she chooses for her parties alone leave me breathless.
with a beautiful photo-rich feature. She shares some of her best tips for hosting a tea party event, from plenty of experience! I highly recommend seeking out a copy of the magazine and reading the article for inspiration and practical advice. But if you can’t get your hands on one, at least