Royal Tea

Since it is National Afternoon Tea Week in the U.K., I decided to enjoy a tea here in Georgia today.  Actually, I am having a "Royal Tea."  What is the difference between an "Afternoon Tea" and a "Royal Tea?"  A "Royal Tea" is also served in the afternoon and in addition to serving savories, scones, and sweets, a special dessert is also offered.  A glass of champagne is offered along with hot tea.

This book "Tea Fit for a Queen" was my inspiration for the tea, as I'm sure Queen Elizabeth II serves a "Royal Tea" to visitors at Buckingham Palace.

"Tea Fit for a Queen" is published by the people at Historic Royal Palaces, with narratives by Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator of the charity.  Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that manages some of the United Kingdom's unoccupied royal palaces; i.e., Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle. 

This pretty little book reveals how the tradition of afternoon tea started in royal Britain.  Recipes for finger sandwiches, Victoria sponge cake, Chelsea Buns, and a Champagne Cocktail are some of the royal recipes included.  Naturally, the recipes are beautifully photographed, but the measurement quantities are U.K. based.  So, if you are in the USA, you will need to convert the measurements.



I decided to use my Franciscan 'Desert Rose' dinner and tea ware for this tea.  I think any china pattern with a rose motif is so pretty at teatime.

Menu
Savories, Scones, and Sweets
Apple Cobbler
Champagne Cocktail
Royal Palace Tea

{I used the book's recipes for Cucumber and Mint Sandwiches, Egg Mayonnaise Sandwiches, and Champagne Cocktails}

Etiquette Tip:  The savories {sandwiches} are always placed on the bottom tier and eaten first; followed by the scones eaten next from the middle tier; and the sweets from the top tier.  Don't forget to take dainty bites!  Take small bites, sip a little tea, and make pleasant conversation.

The Royal Palace Tea may be purchased at Harney Tea...it is delightful, as one would expect!


I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  Tomorrow, I will be back with a very sad post.  "What Happens When the Queen Dies?"

ROYAL WEDDING

'Twas the night before the fairy-tale Royal Wedding...Husband was sent off to sleep in the cottage out back, The Royal Wedding Official Programme was laid out so that I might be able to follow along with the service, the Book of Common Prayer was also at my side, and the Cartier alarm clock set for 3:00 a.m.!
At 3:00 a.m. I heard the sound of the posh clock ringing for me to get up...as I waited a few minutes to muster the energy to crawl out of bed, the Bell Towers appropriately rang very British-y on my iPhone! Feet to floor! Much to do before BBC America began their coverage of the event.

I pulled myself together and donned my Lilly PJ's in the 'Pick of the Bunch' pattern. Yes, I wore my comfy PJ's to watch the Royal Wedding:)

My pink Royal Slippers are monogrammed in green...

Mlle. Coco Chanel does NOT like waking up at 3:00 a.m.--but, all the same, she looks pretty cute in her PJ's!

Of course the pajamas have a tiara-motif pattern...just for my little Princess!

Her cute little topknot barrette...perfect for Miss Coco!

I decided that it would be just myself and Miss Coco watching the wedding together. I wanted to soak up every single detail of the entire event...with no interuptions:)

Since we were both gonna lounge around on the bed, I prepared a Royal Tea. Savories, scones, sweets, and a special dessert are served at a Royal Tea. Champagne/Sherry are also served. The Queen of England quite possibly serves a Royal Tea to her guests at Buckingham Palace.

I set up a small tea table in the corner of the bedroom, with all the accoutrements needed for a Royal Tea...

Pink roses and babies breath in a Waterford vase...

The tiered tea tray, with the savories on the bottom plate, the scones on the middle plate, and the sweets on the top plate--all placed on top of pretty dainty doilies. Tea foods should be eaten in that order--from the bottom to the top of tray.

Tiara sparkling on the tea tray...

The first course--savories...closed-faced, tiara-shaped cucumber sandwiches. Closed-faced sandwiches should be eated with the fingers and remember to use the 3-finger rule {use the thumb, index & middle finger} Take dainty bites--don't put the whole tea sandwich in your mouth at one time--that would be tacky.

The second course--British scones. There are several methods of eating scones; this is the one that I prefer.

With the serving tongs provided, place a scone onto your tea plate. Spoon small dallops {just enough for a single scone} of jam and clotted cream onto your plate. Never spoon directly onto the scone. Break off a piece of the scone as you would do with a roll and put only that piece into your mouth. Use your knife to dab the edge of the scone with jam, then clotted cream. Sip a little tea and repeat! Between bites, remember to rest the knife on the upper right side of your tea plate, with the cutting edge of the blade facing the center of the plate.

I made fresh Strawberry Preserves earlier this week and this jam was wonderful on the scones!

Remember, the clotted cream is added after the jam onto the scone.

The sweets are the third course. Y'all it was just me, so I tried to go soft on the sweets. Ha!

The teapot holds the steaming hot water. Since I chose tea sachets today, the tea was steeped in the teacup, not in the teapot.

'Royal Wedding Tea' from Harney Tea was a must-have for my Royal Tea. This tea was commissioned by the Historic Royal Palaces organization. It's a Chinese mutan white tea with almond, coconut, and vanilla to taste and a floral abundance of pink rosebuds & petals. Perfect for this special morning!

You may purchase either loose tea, tea sachets, or teabags. I love tea sachets, as they are a better quality of tea than the teabag, while a bit quicker and easier to steep than loose tea. If you are served hot water and a tea sachet, place the tea sachet into your teacup and allow it steep in the water for approximately five minutes. Do not dunk the tea sachet of wrap it around your teaspooon to drain it. Place the used tea sachet on a separate saucer--never onto your tea saucer.

Remember that the tea goes into the teacup first...then you would add sugar {loose or cubed}, if you prefer. Today I used a sugar scuttle to hold the sugar cubes...a pretty touch to the tea table! If you take lemon with your tea, you would add a lemon slice {not a lemon wedge, ugh!} after the sugar is added.

Remember that milk is added to tea {not cream} and it goes in last. You would not use milk and lemon together because the acid from the lemon will curdle the milk.

A waste bowl {also called a slop bowl} is used for the spent leaves after steeping or the dregs of the tea not sipped! I had a lot of dregs this morning 'cuz I was Tweeting so much about the Royal Wedding and not paying attention to my tea temperature!

I used a white battenburg Tea Cozy to keep my hot water HOT!

The cozy bed tray set for my Royal Tea...in bed!

Dainty pink tea plates and teacups and saucers placed on a white battenburg placemat. I used a dessert fork, luncheon knife, and dessert spoon, in addition to the teapot-motif teaspoon. {A dainty doily was also placed under the teacup}

When handling the teacup, place the index finger through the handle, with the thumb placed on the top of the handle to support the grip, and the second finger below the handle for added security. The next two fingers naturally follow the curve of the other fingers. It is considered an affection to raise the pinkie finger while sipping tea. Also, you should look into the teacup while sipping your tea.

Remember to softly fold the liquid when adding sugar or milk and then place the teaspooon on the saucer behind the handle.

Serviettes are used at teatime. I added a silver tiara-motif napkin ring for my Royal Tea. The serviette is a tea napkin, 12" square. It is picked up and unfolded on the lap. A tea serviette is opened completely. Proper etiquette dictates that you blot your lipstick with a tissue before taking tea or using any cloth napkin at the table. When using a serviette, blot the corner of your mouth and don't use the serviette as a handkerchief.

Of course, Miss Royal Janice had a tiara-motif placecard holder and pink gingham place card...making it just a little bit more prissy!

Just like millions of others in the world today, I am so happy that I was able to watch this royal event. As I'm writing this post, I have almost finished watching it for the SECOND time and for sure it will not be the LAST time:)

I must say that British ladies certainly know how to dress appropriately inside of a church sanctuary! The beautiful hats {Fascinators} will surely be all the rage in the United States after this wedding.

William and Kate, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge...So young, so in love, so beautiful, so happy...Their wedding just leaves me excited for both them and what their futures hold.

As they stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, I could not help but think of Princess Diana. How very sad that she was not there with them.

It was time for my fourth and final course of The Royal Tea...a special dessert of strawberry sorbet, whipped topping, and a fresh strawberry glaze. After their first public kiss, I lifted my 'Alaina' Waterford goblet of champagne and toasted them out loud {in my best British accent, of course} "May you have good health, happiness, and peace together"!

The royal dessert and champage...

Miss Coco and I had a fabulous morning and she is now down for her afternoon nap...wearing her little Princess tee-shirt!

Thank you for joining me today. I've now got to take my royal self to Petsmart to buy some dog food! Ta Ta!

Tea With Miss Janice, Post #4

Tea time is anytime; however, there are certain names for special times of the day to take tea.

Breakfast Tea

Tea may be served at breakfast whether it is a hearty breakfast or breakfast in bed. I like to serve a muffin and fruit with tea on a tray to my overnight guests.

Breakfast Tea served on Blue Willow china--you can't be a tea lover and not have Blue Willow!

Elevenses
In Britain, workers take a tea break around 11:00 a.m. instead of a coffee break like Americans. Elevenses is my personal favorite--since I'm always working at home, I take an "Elevenses Break" for tea, crumpets, and jam. Crumpets are fat-free and delish; they are sort of like an english muffin, only softer and sweeter.

"Elevenses" at Miss Janice's Desk (yes, I use a knife and fork to cut the crumpet:-) I love this little teapot for one--I purchased it at the Magnolia & Ivy Tearoom in Destin, Florida (now closed). The tea plate and teacup & saucer is a favorite pattern of mine--Lenox Accoutrements, designed by Anna Griffin.
Full Afternoon Tea

Most Americans refer to afternoon tea as high tea because of its regal sound. However, high tea in Britain features heavier foods and is usually served AFTER 6:00 p.m.

The tradition of afternoon tea began in England in 1840. Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, would suffer from a sinking feeling around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Bless her heart--I get that also! She would invite friends to her castle for tea, sandwiches, and sweets. Soon afternoon tea became a widespread social practice, complete with rules of tea etiquette. Afternoon tea became known also as "low tea," because it was usually taken in a sitting room where low coffee tables are placed near chairs and sofas. Along with the tea, there are three distinct courses served at a full afternoon tea--savories, scones, and sweets.

Full Afternoon Tea with savories, scones, sweets, and tea

Cream Tea
A Cream Tea is taken in the afternoon and served with tea and scones with jam and clotted cream (the clotted cream is a must and the reason for the name).

A Cream Tea served using Lenox Eternal china, my bridal pattern.

Light Tea
A Light Tea is taken in the afternoon and served with tea, scones and jam, and sweets.

A Light Tea using Franciscan Ivy my mama gave me...I think it's a perfect china for tea!


Royal Tea
A Royal Tea is also taken in the afternoon and served with tea, savories, scones, sweets, and a special dessert. Champagne or sherry is also served at a Royal tea.

A Royal Tea with savories, scones and sweets

I served a champagne punch at my Royal Tea

A special dessert in addition to the sweets on the tea tray was also served.

Silver Tea
A Silver Tea is a fund-raising tea usually given by a Church or charitable organization.

A Silver Tea

High Tea
This is a heavy meal, not a dainty affair (no tea sandwiches here), and usually held after 6:00 p.m. Tea is served along with the meal.



If you've been following my tea posts for the month, so far you have learned: The history of tea and where it is produced, the varieties of tea and stages of processing, some health benefits of tea, how to prepare your tea, and today you've learned about the names for special times of the day to take tea. I hope you are enjoying National Hot Tea Month. It's a great time of the year to sip a cuppa of your favorite tea or try a new variety of tea!



This weekend I will be featuring a review of a tearoom here in South Florida. For me, this is one of the exciting things about moving to a different state--there's a whole lot of new tearooms to visit!



Tea always makes me feel a little more civilized. No matter where I take tea, I feel a calming charm. Tea conjures up feelings of elegance and gentility.

Diva Tea

Moving away from the holiday scene, my tablescape today is perfect for that Diva in you. Diva is the theme for this table setting and it would be a cute setting for a diva wannabe, a diva-in-training, or any practicing diva.

You may also call this a "Royal Tea." What is the difference between a full Afternoon Tea and a Royal Tea? This special tea is taken in the afternoon and in addition to serving savories, scones, and sweets, a special dessert is offered. A glass of champagne or sherry is also offered, and of course, hot tea. I'm sure Queen Elizabeth serves a "Royal Tea" to visiting dignitaries at Buckingham Palace.

Please stand behind your chair, with your hands resting on the top of the chair back, and wait until the Diva/Queen/Hostess has been seated; thank you!...you may be seated. Please don't touch a thing until the hostess has picked up her serviette and placed it onto her lap. That will be your signal that you may place your serviette onto your lap.

The table is set with vintage pink Arcoroc glassware, girly plates, crown napkin rings, and tiara-motif place cards holders.

A floral-embellished bustier and a menu card make a lovely centerpiece.

Menu

Savories, Scones, and Sweets

The "Queen's Cake"

Vanilla Sorbet with Fruit

Royal Champagne Punch

Coronation Hot Tea

A tiered tea tray, embellished with pink tulle and a tiara, holds the dainty tea foods.

The Queen's Cake...
A service tray with a simple teapot, milk in a creamer, and cute little pocketbook & high heel-motif sugar cubes.

The chair decorations are small bustiers with pink hydrangeas and pink bows.

Send your divas-in-waiting away with a party favor. I found petite bustiers similar to my centerpiece and chair decos, tied a pink ribbon around the waist, and attached a tea pendant charm, which can be worn on a choker necklace...just a little something to remind them of my "Diva Tea."