MIND YOUR TEA'S AND Q'S!

National Iced Tea Month is the perfect time to polish your "iced tea etiquette skills!" This is a post I wrote a couple of years ago...

To sit and have a glass of tea is one of the most relaxing things that you can do. It slows you down from your hectic pace and gives you a chance to take a deep breath and relax. However, it doesn't matter whether you are drinking iced tea from a styrofoam cup on the front porch...

Or taking sips from a beautiful Waterford iced tea goblet at an Afternoon Tea...

There is proper etiquette to be followed!
Even in the South, iced tea is only served at informal meals and at Afternoon Tea, not at a formal meal. This is a proper formal placesetting...notice that the iced tea goblet is not displayed.

Properly served, iced tea is served in a tall glass with a doily and a saucer (bread plate) and an iced teaspoon. (Many savvy Southern brides include silver iced teaspoons and crystal iced tea goblets on their Bridal Registry.) The iced teaspoon would be placed on the outer right of the place setting at an angle, or laid straight on an iced teaspoon rest.

If the spoon is used to stir your tea after adding sugar, the teaspoon is either placed on an iced teaspoon rest provided or placed on the saucer. If there is no saucer or spoon rest provided, the spoon should remain in the glass at all times. Keep the long iced teaspoon in your glass, after you stir, with the handle held toward the far side by the index finger and with the remaining three fingers and thumb of the hand, hold the glass while you drink. It is quite easy to drink your tea and hold the teaspoon in the glass, and if you practice it, you will be able to handle it with grace! Remember that once used, a utensil is never placed back on the table.
Sugar and lemon are both offered with iced tea. Add sugar first, otherwise the citric acid of the lemon prevents the sugar from dissolving. You may place the lemon slice/wedge directly into the poured glass of tea, but it is not necessary to press the lemon.

What to do with the empty sweetener packet? Use the sweetener packets provided and tuck the empty packet discreetly under the edge of the saucer or the dinner plate.

In the South, your iced tea goblet may be adorned with a pretty doily bonnet...


So, whether you're drinking tea from a styrofoam cup or from a fancy Waterford iced tea goblet, remember these Teas and Q's:

~Swallow your food before you sip your tea.
~Don't slurp your tea...sip!
~Don't place your iced teaspoon directly onto the table after you have used it, place it behind the iced tea glass onto the saucer, onto the iced teaspoon rest, or leave it in the glass.
~It's "iced tea" not ice tea.
~Look into the glass of tea while you are sippin', not over it!
~Stir the tea liquid gently with the iced teaspoon.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Y'all have a tea-rific day!