Napkin Etiquette at Teatime

Let's talk tea today.  What's in my teacup?  It's a loose tea "Florence Tea" from Harney Tea.  I know I carry on all the time on my Instagram about the fabulous teas from Harney, but there are so many to love!  This is a China black tea with hints of chocolate and traces of almond and hazelnut.  It's delightful y'all! 

From my etiquette book collection...I love this classic book by Dorothea Johnson, "Tea and Etiquette: Taking Tea for Business and Pleasure."  Of all the etiquette tips she taught me, napkin etiquette will remain with me forever!

Today, in all dining situations, the napkin is properly picked up and unfolded on the lap, not above the table level.  A large dinner napkin is folded in half with the fold facing the body, while a tea napkin (12" serviette) is opened completely on the lap. Don't iron the napkin folds flat (iron the napkin but not the folds).  Remember that all napkin folds on your table should face the same way. 

Wait for your hostess to take her napkin and place it on her lap.  Then pick up your napkin and place it on your lap. 



Please don't wipe your mouth with the napkin.  Blot it.  Lipstick is never blotted on a cloth napkin; discreetly blot the lipstick onto a tissue before you begin to eat.  Don't use a napkin as handkerchief.  The napkin should remain on the lap during tea.

If you need to leave the table temporarily, place your napkin on your chair, not on the table.  Push you chair back under the table if the setting is appropriate.  Return the napkin to your lap when you are seated.  The host or hostess picks up his or her napkin to signal the close of the tea.  At the end of the tea, the napkin is not refolded but picked up by the center and placed loosely to the left of the plate.

National Hot Tea Month

Y'all know I love to celebrate every occasion and since January is National Hot Tea Month, I'll be sippin' hot tea every chance I get.  After the rush of the holidays, I'm ready to relax, organize my stuff, and plan for the new year.

To sit and have a cup of tea is one of the most relaxing things that you can do.  It's not the actual drinking of the tea, but the ritual of boiling the water, preparing the tea, and patiently waiting and anticipating quiet time.  It slows you down from your hectic pace and gives you a chance to take a deep breath and relax.

I do love to visit tearooms when I travel or when I'm at home.  In the past I've been able to locate lots of tearooms on Tea Map and The Tea House Times.  Unfortunately, it seems as though proper tearooms are becoming a thing of the past and that's a shame.  Taking tea in a tearoom is so relaxing and gives us a chance to practice proper etiquette.

If you are taking tea at home, you may serve at the dining table.  This is the correct place setting...The hostess pours the tea for each guest and serves them individually from the right-hand side.  Teacups and saucers are never passed around the table.  After all the guests have been served tea, the hostess serves herself and the tea begins.

If you choose to take your tea at the coffee table, it is called a "Low Tea" and this is the proper setting.  Remember when taking tea at a coffee table, pick up the teacup and saucer together.  The teacup should never be more than 12" away from the saucer.

Yes, there is tea etiquette to be followed.  My favorite books are by one of my favorite etiquette teachers, Ms. Dorothea Johnson.  These books are must-reads for those who take tea for business or pleasure and to teach children about the etiquette rules observed at afternoon tea...from the invitations to the thank-you notes.  You can order these books at my "Miss Janice Recommends" page.

"At tea, as in any other interaction, we are not free to act merely as we please, but we must act with mutual consideration, as befits our independence."  ~Dorothy Johnson

Today it is so cold here in Georgia and I'm only going to leave the house to go to the gym.  Right now I'm enjoying an "Elevenses Tea"...tea with a little treat.  Harney Tea is my absolute favorite and I steeped their "Florence" tea and am nibbling on shortbread while I'm piddling around the house.

January is National Hot Tea Month

I'm stepping back away from the Starbucks cups for now and sippin' some hot tea.  January is National Hot Tea month and even though I'm in warm, sunny Florida, I still enjoy tea in the morning.    I'm definitely getting back on my "Clean Living Diet" and tea is the perfect beverage to add to a healthy meal, whether it's hot tea or iced tea. Tea has so many health benefits...it's high in polyphenols, a type of anti-oxidant that may protect our cells from the DNA damage that can cause many diseases. Harney Tea is by far my favorite tea and this morning I'm enjoying some of their Florence tea.  It's a flavored black tea, with hazlenut and chocolate flavors.   

Back in 2009, I blogged all about tea during the entire month of January.  If you search my archives, you will find blog posts about The History of Tea, The Health Benefits of Tea, Steeping Tea, Times for Tea, Tea Accoutrements, Styles of Tea Service, Tips to Remember at the Tea Table, and Tea and Dining Etiquette.

Now is the perfect time to have tea with children and teach them how to behave at the table.

"Children's Tea and Etiquette" by Dorothea Johnson, John Harney, and Ann Noyes is the perfect book for those want to breed good manners in young minds...You'll find everything you need to know about children's tea and etiquette...from the invitations...to the thank-you notes!

Ms. Johnson has also written another book...with Bruce Richardson, "Tea and Etiquette."  This book is a must-read for those who take tea for business or pleasure.  It includes chapters on tea history, tea and health information, hosting an afternoon tea at home, tea faux pas, guest duties at a social tea, going out to tea, business tea etiquette, finessing the food at tea, tea types, steeping guides, and recipes.

Please join me and lift your teacups during January to toast National Hot Tea month.  Remember, tea is considered the beverage of hospitality...so go steep some tea!