Afternoon Tea

Besides coffee, my family and I are avid tea drinkers.  We’ve taken advantage of this time at home experimenting with different teas and ways to enhance and savor the experience.

At 6 years old, I introduced Emma to her first afternoon tea experience, which happened to be a holiday tea too. It was a mommy-daughter outing with my girlfriend and her daughter at the Adolphus hotel in downtown Dallas.  Emma enjoyed herself so much, especially with all the little sweet petits fours that it became a regular tradition for us.  My girlfriends and I have enjoyed afternoon tea at some of the best hotel establishments in the country, and we even celebrated the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal nuptials with our own royal tea outing, complete with fascinators.

Last fall, I introduced my son and husband to their first afternoon tea experience at the Savoy of London—an experience that was truly fit for a queen!  While Ethan didn’t care much for the tea, he did love all the savoury finger sandwiches and especially loved the holiday petits fours formed as reindeers and other holiday favorites.  We all had a regal time.

I’ve collected many memories over the years of afternoon tea and have tried to recreate them at home.  I’ve even hosted my very own afternoon tea for some of my closest girlfriends and have often served afternoon tea at home for my family, complete with finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and jam, as well as numerous other treats.  It has become a family favorite pastime and allows for a nice, luxurious break and escape from all the chaos and craziness going on around us.  

I encourage you all to steep a cup of tea in a beautiful tea cup, gather any sweets you can find; make yourself a simple cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwich and sit back and enjoy.  I guarantee it will bring you some much welcomed peace and relaxation.