Afternoon Tea — by holley

I love afternoon tea. What a great excuse to dress up, eat sweets and indulge in champagne. My first afternoon tea I attended was at the Plaza Hotel in NYC and I was hooked ever since. While there are several places I love to frequent here in DC and across the pond in London and Paris, there is nothing like treating yourself to this ritual at home. With the first day of Spring this Saturday I thought that hosting afternoon tea at home could be a unique way to celebrate Easter, Mother’s Day or Spring birthdays.

So it’s no surprise that I love collecting dishes and have an affinity for teacups and teapots in particular. This is hands down my favorite brand for serving tea and for unique place settings. Once I have my table set, I get to work in the kitchen plating my treats and selecting my tea. This is my favorite Parisian tea. But I also love this brand and this brand. And these are so luxurious that no strainer is required. For this afternoon tea I assembled my first macaron tower! In my opinion macarons and tea go hand in hand! Come back tomorrow and I’ll share how I assembled it and share my tips.

When it comes to boiling water many like to have a kettle on the stove (which also doubles as great decoration) but I prefer to use an electric kettle so I can set my temperature to match what is recommended by the tea brand. Some require 170 degrees, and some require more for optimal taste. I have this clear glass electric kettle (I love that I can see it boil and also confirm that it is clean inside!) but I have seen this one and this one in a lot of hotels and restaurants. And this one is just a darling little showpiece.

As for your tea selection, you can make it easy on yourself and purchase tea already in sachets so all you have to do is dunk and allow it to steep. This is what I use most evenings when I enjoy some peppermint tea. When I am sitting down for tea, I prefer lose leaf. You can use this or this to assemble your tea and you will need a strainer like this to capture any leaves that got away. All of these items make for a thoughtful gift alone or bundled together. This is the grand dame of pre-assembled tea baskets ( now available in the states). I think it is so charming and have seen many people hold on to their hamper or basket for home or closet decor.

And if you aren’t feeling up for company, I just love collecting those tea-for-one sets. They are easy to store and always bring a smile to my face.