A Christmas Afternoon Tea Party – A Guide
An afternoon tea party is one of the best ways to celebrate a special occasion, and when the festive period arrives, all you are doing is putting a festive twist into the mix.
No matter where you are in the world, an afternoon tea can be enjoyed by all, and is an easy way to put on a great spread while not having to prepare too many different food choices.
This article is going to look at how you can put on a Christmas afternoon tea party to delight your guests and create a special festive time to remember.
Let’s get into it!
The Food
The food that you serve at your Christmas afternoon tea party is unsurprisingly one of the most important aspects of the event! Thankfully, traditional foods for an afternoon tea party are usually cold and easy to prepare in advance, so while you might have to provide a bit of a selection, it does not need to be a mad rush in the kitchen to get everything done.
Some traditional sandwiches (that do need to be in a triangle shape) include mixes such as:
- Egg and cress
- Cheese
- Cheese and onion
- Cheese and pickle
- Ham
- Beef and horseradish
However, if you are putting a Christmas spin on it, you might want to consider some festive fillings too, such as:
- Turkey and stuffing
- Chicken and stuffing
- Nut roast and stuffing
- Bacon and sausage (or pigs in blankets!)
- Prawn cocktail
- Brie and grape
For the sweet side of the party, cakes, biscuits, and scones make a great desert. Think mince pies, spiced scones with jam and clotted cream, chocolate logs, snowball marshmallows, and of course, a traditional Christmas pudding!
The Drinks
The drinks also take center stage at an afternoon tea party, especially when it is Christmas. You can provide alcoholic drinks such as Prosecco or other sparkling wine, mulled wine, or even a short such as Baileys. However, it should be special for those who do not drink alcohol too. This is where fancy hot chocolates, Cooper Tea, and mulled fruit juice come in handy!
Providing a selection of drinks that are hot and cold, or alcoholic and non-alcoholic can give people a better choice to make their Christmas afternoon perfect.
The Vibes
What is a Christmas afternoon tea without a little (or a lot of) decoration? To get into the spirit, you can implement a table setting that is centered around the festive season. Think holly centerpieces, small Christmas trees, pulling crackers, tinsel, and rich reds and greens for the color scheme. Candles are also perfect for a festive afternoon tea and can add that cozy atmosphere that is often seen in picturesque Christmas cards.
If you are planning some entertainment too, Christmas games are a fun and easy option to play around the table, and singing carols or Christmas tunes might not go a miss either.
A Christmas tea party is a great way to have a special time with friends and family!