What Do I Serve at a Tea Luncheon?

Keep your tea party classy with miniature morsels.

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Tea parties are all about charm and elegance, both of which should be reflected in your menu. Aside from being aesthetically appealing, dainty drinks and bites will help promote conversation and manners among your guests; messy, cumbersome foods are difficult to eat while mingling, so stick to neat, petite treats so your guests aren't spilling the goods, shaking hands with sticky fingers or attempting to speak with a mouth full of food.

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As the title of the party would suggest, the tea ought to have the spotlight at your get-together. While it's perfectly acceptable to serve a standard variety of tea, it could be more interesting to offer guests a selection of funky, exotic teabags from around the world to try. If you're hosting your party during the summer on a particularly hot day, serving iced tea might make more sense than doling out hot beverages; serve fruity flavors like raspberry or peach for a refreshing twist. Despite it being a tea party, it's possible that some guests might not be fans of the beverage. To accommodate the picky drinkers, serve ice water flavored with lemon or cucumber to maintain a sophisticated feel.

Finger Sandwiches

One of the benefits of finger sandwiches is that they can be filled with a variety of different ingredients to suit many tastes. For a sweet and salty finger sandwich combination, use items like prosciutto, fontina, arugula and fig jam as your filling. You could also keep it sophisticated and simple with sandwich fillings like cucumbers, olive tapenade or egg salad. For picky eaters, be they children or full grown, serve some options like cold cuts and cheese or even peanut butter and jelly.

Savory Bites

Punch up the snack table with some tasty bite-size morsels that will allow your guests to easily chow down and chat simultaneously. Dishes like quiche or savory tarts are simple to downsize without compromising any of the taste or sophistication; use store-bought miniatures to save time, or make your own mini bites at home by dispersing your fillings into smaller pastry containers. Serve other savory bites on the ends of toothpicks to ensure a quick and easy taste treat for your guests.

Petite Sweets

Add a touch of whimsy to your tea party by offering a spread of dazzling petite sweets for your guests to enjoy. Think French patisserie when planning out your dessert menu; include items like miniature fruit tarts, bite-size eclairs, tiny cream puffs and pastel petit fours. You can also downsize your favorite baked goods like brownies, cookies and candies if you want to keep it simple. For a little something extra to display your treats, make your own tiered serving tower by stacking a hodgepodge of teacups, plates and saucers on top of one another.

ReferencesSouthern Living: Favorite Finger Sandwiches for a LuncheonThe Tea Party Club: Tea Party FoodResourcesCraft Foxes: Upcycle Vintage Teacups Into Something NewPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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