Issue 30: Afternoon Tea 🍰 🫖
Let’s have an elegant par-TEA 😉
Hi Friends,
We can’t believe we’re almost through with October! Recently, our friends Johanna and Vivek got married (congrats again, guys!), and the days leading up to the wedding were full of love, sharing of cultures, and celebrations! We had the best time getting gorgeous hennas at the bridal Mehndi brunch and even did a creative paint session + afternoon tea for the bridal shower. We hope you enjoy all the afternoon tea goodies we prepared for you in this issue, including a look at Crowne Plaza’s newest tea time.
Cheers!
Marissa and Akina
History of Afternoon Tea
Originating from England in the 1840s, afternoon tea was the brainchild of Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. She often felt hungry between lunch and dinner and ordered tea with sandwiches and sweets to her room. Eventually, she began inviting friends, and this simple act birthed a beloved British tradition.
💭Did You Know?
Although afternoon tea is British, teas like Darjeeling hail from India, while others like matcha are distinctly Japanese.
The word tea in Mandarin is “chá,” but in Min Chinese dialects it’s “te.” Hence, why we say “tea” in English but “té” in Spanish.
Many Asian teas aren’t just about the leaf. Think of aromatic jasmine pearls or genmaicha, which mixes green tea with roasted rice!
Our Afternoon Tea Affair at Crowne Plaza
Every month, we meet up with two of our girlfriends for a Creative Mastermind session. Our group consists of writers, photographers, graphic designers, and business owners, so we use this time to take a break from our busy schedule to relax in good company and share whatever project ideas we have in mind (okay, maybe indulge a little too).
We tried Crowne Plaza’s new Pink Royal Afternoon Tea Set, which includes three tiers of sweets and savory bites with a blooming tea. Not only did we have views of the beach and sunset, but the tiers were just too pretty to eat! Each dessert centered around the theme of pink and tasted just as delightful as it looked.
🫶🏻 Our favs: Compressed watermelon and crab, guava jelly with lemon soda gelee and fruits, and the scones!
A Guide to Throwing a Tea Party for All Occasions
Hosting an afternoon tea party is the perfect blend of simplicity and elegance suited for almost any occasion (yes, even Halloween). In celebration of Johanna and Vivek’s big day, we hosted a charming afternoon tea and paint session bridal shower at Dear Tree. Take a peek at some of the artwork our gal pals produced. Aren’t they pre-TEA? 😉
Here’s a quick guide to throwing your very own afternoon tea party
What each tier would look like
The setup:
1st course (bottom)
2nd course (middle)
3rd course (top)
What you need:
Three tier stand
Silverware
Tea Pot
Teacups
Saucers
Plates
Milk jug
Sugar bowl
Doilies
Tip: You can sometimes get lucky with these items at Ross 🫖
Marissa’s Scone Recipe
“Chai” this simple scone recipe for your tea party. They are fragrant, fluffy, and flakey and taste amazing with jam and clotted cream. If you get intimidated by all the spices, try chai powder. I use Watkins which I also mix into my coffee.
Tea Recommendations
Twinings’ Lady Grey. A black tea with flavors of lemon and orange.
Whittard’s Passionfruit & Mango Loose Tea. This green tea is packed with antioxidants and the tropical flavors we love!
Tea Forté’s English Breakfast. A classic. Try this rich black tea that pairs well with milk, sugar, and sweets from the tiers.
Fun Reads:
Did you know there are rules and etiquette for afternoon tea? Here’s a breakdown of what they are.
Harry Potter Tea Time? Say no more! Look what Universal Studios in London is offering here.
Recipes for English tea sandwiches.
A look at how tea is enjoyed around the world.
Have a Tea-riffic Week!
Don’t be chai 😉 follow us on IG to see our visual diary and a glimpse of our tea party at Crowne Plaza.