A High Tea is an English custom and therefore has an English name. A “High Tea” simply means an extensive or lavishly served supper and that is what it is. Anyone who has already participated will definitely love it. It is also fun and enjoyable to relax and catch up with a bunch of girlfriends and/or friends over a High Tea. In many restaurants you can order a High Tea for a limited number of people, but you can also organize a High Tea in the intimate atmosphere of your own home. That is not only a lot cheaper, but often also much more pleasant than in a restaurant. On the other hand, you will of course have some work to do, because it will take you a few hours to make all those small snacks.
Only receive guests who can make time for a High Tea
You and your guests should make time for a High Tea, because it would be a shame to eat all those tasty snacks too quickly. That is not the intention of the event at all. The idea is to leisurely drink tea (or even coffee) during the social gathering and try all the tasty snacks that are presented to you, and there are often quite a few. After a well-organized High Tea, you have really eaten enough and are certainly no longer hungry.
Big differences
There are quite a few restaurants where you can order a nice High Tea. This is also possible at Intratuin. Always inquire about the price, because there is quite a difference. Of course, the price is also determined by the surroundings, the decoration of the table and the snacks that are on the table. In any case, there should be a jug of hot water and an extensive number of tea bags of all kinds to freshly brew the tea of your choice. In addition, there is usually a tier on the table with all kinds of sweet and salty cookies, chocolates, scones, small cakes, honey, sugar packets, jam, and so on. The hot snacks are served separately in between.
The decoration of the table for a High Tea
This is often aimed at English tastes. This could involve beautiful tableware with pink or blue flowers or a cozy floral tablecloth with matching decor on the tableware. However, an etagère is almost never missing and it is also necessary to accommodate many small sweet and savory snacks in a small space. A snack of each type is placed on the table for each guest, so that everyone can taste all the snacks. If there are more than two guests, there are often more etagères on the table.
A table for some extra snacks and a beautiful etagère are included
Often a small table is placed next to the set table, on which the jug with hot water and the etagère are placed. This way they do not take up extra space on the table and the range of snacks can be expanded somewhat.
The order of the snacks on the table
There actually isn’t one. Anyone who is used to eating salt first and then sweet can of course do that, but you can also just mix everything together. After all, there is plenty of time in between. You eat whatever snacks you feel like at that moment. Hot snacks are often served on the table and of course they should be eaten as warm as possible. After all, that’s when they taste the tastiest.
Organize a fun and delicious High Tea yourself
If you like the idea, but find a High Tea in a restaurant a bit too expensive, why not organize a High Tea at your home? After all, it’s not that difficult. Set the table and dress it nice and cozy, so that it has a lovely, English look.
No large dishes
Place small plates on the table and provide them with a knife and fork. After all, they are all small snacks. You can often just use the plates of your pastry set for this. A napkin should also not be missing, because some snacks are simply taken with the hands.
Tea or coffee
For tea you can use tea glasses, but also cups and saucers. Fill a bowl with tea bags of different types and place them on the table. If someone does not want tea, but prefers coffee, that should not be a problem. After all, everyone should have a good time. Prepare the coffee in a thermos, so that people can take it, just like the tea, when they feel like it.
A shelf full of small snacks
Place a number of empty paper cup cake cases on a stand and fill them with small, dry snacks, such as small, sweet cookies, a few tasty chocolates, a few small, salty cookies, mini cakes, scones, brownies, cupcakes, muffins, etc. pieces of apple pie, fresh nuts and whatever else you like. However, it all has to be small, otherwise your guests will quickly be full and that is not the intention. For hosts who enjoy cooking, a few deviled eggs are also fun to serve
Whipped cream for the gourmets
Also place small bowls with some whipped cream on the etagère and small bowls with two or three types of jam and honey, which you can also buy ready-made in the supermarket. A small bowl of whipped cream per guest always works well. Guests can use it with small cakes and scones. Decorate the etagère with a few grapes, some mandarin segments, a few strawberries, or cucumber slices, depending on the season.
The small, warm snacks
Take a look in the freezer section of your supermarket. There you can often find boxes with small snacks, such as a mini pie, mini quiche, small coffee rolls, and so on. You can also take a quiche and, after heating it up, place it on the table in small pieces of approximately three by three centimeters. A small butter cake can also be cut into pieces and placed on the etagère.
Other hot snacks
Also consider an onion baguette, which you heat up and cut into thin slices. Profiteroles or cones with a savory filling. Wraps filled with lettuce, salmon and herb cheese. You can often get small, savory snacks ready-made in the supermarket or from the butcher and/or baker.
Small sausage rolls and/or cheese rolls
You can easily serve a sausage roll divided into four to the table. It’s even better to buy a box of mini pies and fill them yourself with something sweet or savory. Small-cut savory sandwiches with lettuce, salmon, and/or salad are also savory snacks for in between. Let your imagination run wild. Everything is allowed, as long as it is small and tasty and each guest gets his own piece of it.
Don’t serve too quickly
Don’t put everything on the table at once. Make sure there is some time between the different courses. After all, the idea is to take time for tasty snacks. Make sure you regularly provide fresh hot water for tea. A small waste bin always works well, because this way you keep the table clear and any tea bags, jam or honey tubs, etc. can be cleared away quickly. This way the table continues to look beautiful.
Enjoy your own High Tea yourself
Don’t make it too difficult for yourself so that you can enjoy your own High Tea. Think about it carefully in advance so that you get a good mix of ready-made snacks and something that you can prepare yourself in advance. The idea is that during High Tea you only have to occasionally put a jug of hot water on the table to make fresh tea and occasionally put some hot snacks in the oven and at most cut them, so that you can prepare for the rest you can sit comfortably at the table with your guests.
Make an appointment together at a reasonable time
Agree on a time for the High Tea when everyone can attend and only if all guests make plenty of time for it. If someone has to leave after a certain time, it will put pressure on the event and that is not the intention. Take your time.