High Tea at Home

 

High Tea is basically where you sit down and eat fancy little cakes, scones and savouries off posh plates and drink tea.
Well that's what it is called where I live (in New Zealand) anyway.
Traditionally however, High Tea was a hearty, late afternoon meal eaten by labourers, Afternoon Tea was the one where rich people ate the tiny cakes.
Afternoon tea is thought to have originated around the early 19th century when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford (a woman after my own heart!) complained of having 'that sinking feeling' in the later part of the afternoon. Her solution: a pot of tea and snacks in her boudoir.
After inviting a few friends to partake of this 'afternoon tea', the practice became so popular that other hostesses started copying her, and thus Afternoon Tea was born.
Recently, people seemed to have decided that High Tea sounds fancier than Afternoon Tea, and have reinvented it.
Going to a restaurant or café for High Tea is an awesome experience.
I went for High Tea at the Hippopotamus Hotel in Wellington for my 16th http://www.hippopotamus.co.nz/high-tea/ and it was really cool, but quite expensive ($39pp).
And that's the thing, going out for High Tea is fun, but it can cost a LOT, especially if lots of people are going.
My solution: High Tea at home.
Over the last few years, I have hosted several High Teas, all of which I enjoyed almost as much as the hotel one.
All you need is:

• A couple of layered plates (see photo)
• Tea cups and saucers
• A teapot
• An assortment of Teas
• Various miniature cakes, savouries etc
• A nice table cloth
• A table and chairs (obviously)
• Maybe some decorations if you are doing a themed one

The food can be a bit time consuming. However, you can make some things ahead ie. little pies, slices, tart cases, and freeze them, which saves a LOT of time and reduces stress levels on the day. Another thing I've done a couple of times, is asked the friends I invited to each bring a plate of dainty food, we each made one or two things meaning there was plenty to eat but no one had to do all the work.

Foodwise, just make whatever you fancy, but try to make sure that everything is bite-sized.
It's also a good idea to try and ensure you have a good balance of savoury and sweet options.

To give you some ideas, here is a list of all the food pictured in this post:

Blue and White Table Cloth Tea

• Miniature Bacon and Egg Pies
• Citrus Slice
• Cheesey Bread Roll-ups
• Raspberry Macaroons
• Chocolate Whoopie Pies
• Egg Sandwiches
• Miniature Tea Cups filled with either jelly (topped with meringue), or mousse (topped with blackberry jam.)
• Chocolate Truffles

Flowery Table Cloth Tea

• Samosas with Mango Chutney
• Cream Cheese and Cucumber Club Sandwiches
• Egg and Parsley Club Sandwiches
• Ham, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese and Relish Club Sandwiches
• Chicken (mixed with Mayonnaise and Parsley), Lettuce, Cheese and Relish Club Sandwiches
• Miniature Lemonade Scones with Cream and Jam
• Raspberry, Double Chocolate Blondies
• Miniature Red Onion Pies
• Miniature Lemon Meringue Pies
• Tarts filled with Cream Cheese (mixed with brown sugar) topped with grated chocolate
• Miniature Ginger Loaves (sliced)

Have you ever had High Tea? If so where?
Did you enjoy it?
Have you held one at home?
Let me know in the comments!