You Are Cordially Invited…

~ or ~

The finer points on hosting a tea party for children

Part II

In my last article, we talked about how to prepare for the perfect tea party for children, from invitations down to what kind of food to serve. But I’m afraid that we didn’t discuss one very important detail… the tea and table service!

Do you know kids who don’t like tea? I do. Lots of them. But most of them don’t enjoy tea because they’ve never been introduced to a kind that they like. So how can you introduce good tea to them? As a tea snob and a person who enjoys introducing my friends to tea, I’d suggest starting with a light, sweet loose leaf tea, like New Kitchen Store’s Raspberry Beret Tea (best when slightly sweetened), or a spiced chai (cream and one sugar, please and thank you!).

You may even want to have a tea “bar,” with several different types to choose from. Kids love that kind of thing. They may find one tea that they’ll stick with—the little boy in the picture always asks for strawberry tea when he comes over for tea parties—or they’ll try them all (his sisters know where my tea drawer is, and over their last several visits, they’ve been tasting their way through it, discovering a new favorite each time).

When you make the tea for your party, remember that tea, in some respects, is like people: they have different personalities. Some are very picky about the temperature of the water they’re steeped in and how much time they spend in the water before you take a sip. However, others are very lenient about all of that. Fortunately, most tea containers have recommended instructions on how to get the best cup. If, however, you have the misfortune of getting one that doesn’t, here’s a handy-dandy chart to help you out:

If the children you’re inviting to your party are the kind that don’t mind trying new things, then serving tea shouldn’t be a problem. But if they’re picky, you have your work cut out for you. Do you fight it or go unconventional? In that kind of circumstance, I’d host a hot chocolate party or a juice party instead of a traditional tea party. But why serve your supermart-variety hot cocoa packets when you can serve a gourmet hot chocolate, like these? They’re available from New Kitchen Store and you can buy them here.

The Cup That Cheers

~ or ~

Finding the perfect tea service for your party

So. We have the party planned and know which drink to serve and how to make it. But what to serve it in? Styrofoam or paper cups? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if we’re going for a traditional-chic atmosphere that will make the kiddos “oohh” and “aww” when they see the table.

How about a beautiful tea set? If you want to go all out, check out the children’s tea sets at New Kitchen Store. They have several styles to choose from, and two sizes: a “dollies and me” size (perfect for one hostess and three favorite toys) or “friends and me” size (fantastic for one hostess and three human-sized guests). 

To see New Kitchen Store’s merchandise, check out their website at NewKitchenStore.com

or visit their store at 330 Liberty St., Walkerton IN.

So there you have it. Hosting a tea party made simple. If you’re inspired by this article, take a picture of your party and post it to the New Kitchen Store Facebook Page. We’d love to hear about it! 

More About Angela...

Angela is a country girl living in northern Indiana with her family. She graduated from Bethel College (IN) in 2013 and is now working as a professional writer. In her spare time, she likes cooking, hanging out with friends, needlework crafts, playing the piano, and making tea. To read more by her, check out AngelaCornellWriter.blogspot.com.