How can I host a DIY British high tea at home?
I had the most amazing experience having high tea in an old vintage tea in England. I sat in a warm, cozy room filled with antique tea pots, flowery wall paper and the smell of freshly baked cakes. A three-tiered white serving dish sat at the center of my table, covered in finger sandwiches, scones, cake, and macaroons. Needless to say, I fell in love with the idea of drinking tea and eating fancy, delicious foods from adorable dishes. Unfortunately, back home in California, high tea is not nearly as popular as it is in England. Which means when I returned home from my trip abroad, my heart had a tea-time void that needed to be filled. So I decided a DIY High Tea was necessary.
For those who do not know what high tea is, I am not entirely sure either to be quite honest. I have been scolded for explaining it incorrectly in the past, so let’s just stick to thinking of high tea as a social outing that involves yummy tea, sandwiches and desserts.
Without many options for high tea in So Cal, I decided to make a guide onhow to haveyour own hightea at home. It is full of some amazing recipes that I found from my favorite food bloggers. I included a lot of options as well, just incase a few recipes don’t hit the spot for you or your guests.
The structure of high tea is simple, and if you don’t have a three tiered dish like this one, just use separate pretty plates or dishes!
The Bottom Tier
Finger Sandwiches:This tier is all about variety! Choose a few recipes and have one (or two) of each. Here are some of my favorite recipes.
- This delicious option combines the deliciousness of avocado with the famous egg salad sandwich. Yes, it is a spicy avocado egg salad sandwich, and you will LOVE it.
- Now,one for the meat lovers. These mini Italian club sandwiches will have you reaching for more.
- For those who are more traditional,these cream cheese tea sandwiches are delicious and adorable.
The Middle Tier
Scones with clotted cream and jam:This is the essential part! Of course sandwiches are delicious, but the scones make for the classic high tea experience.
This is my scone after I added clotted cream, but before I added jam. I inhaled it immediately after putting on jam and my camera wasn’t quick enough to get a picture!
Scones:
- For the fun and fruity scone lover in your life,these dark chocolate cranberry scones will be everything you could want, and more.
- If you’re looking for the traditional scone recipe, you cannot go wrong withthis easy and delectable option.
Clotted cream: If you have never heard of clotted cream, you are missing out! And I don’t just mean missing out like you missed a shooting star, it’s more like you missed your BFF’s birthday party and Beyoncé showed up. It is basically a thick and soft cream. Not quite cream cheese, but not quite sour cream. The taste is mild, but the cool texture of the cream on the flakey scone is THE BEST. The only stores in the US I have found it at are World Market (called Double Devon Cream), and Whole Foods! Try making your own if you don’t have a World Market or Whole Foods nearby.
You will also need your favoritejam! If you are serious about this and want to make your own… more power to you. But I am OK with picking up an apricot spread and spending my time on the clotted cream.
The Top Tier to your DIY High Tea
Dessert (AKA cake and macaroons): The final stage! Unless you are my grandma and eat the cake first.
- Carrot cake is very popular out here in England, and sorry America… but it is so much better here! Luckily, now that I am back to the states, I have this recipeto go off of and make sure I can have it whenever I want.
- Want those famousmacaroons, but aren’t sure if you can make them yourself? Look no further, because you CAN!Not only can you makethese salted caramel macaroons, you will lick the bowl when you’re done.
The Tea for your DIY High Tea
The easiest, but most essential part is choosing your tea. Grab some of your favorite tea bags and put them into the cutest tea pot you own. If there is one thing you get out of this post it should be to PUT MILK IN YOUR TEA. Yes, I’m yelling. If you haven’t tried it, please please please do! My favorite is black tea with cream. It maintains the mild but delicious taste of the tea, with a whole lot of added creaminess.
Now go off, gather your friends and enjoy great food and even better times. Let me know how it goes. Looking for other ways to intentionally gather with friends? Check out my DIY paint and sip night post!
