Help if Help is Needed

Your response is, “Let me help you.” Your job is now to be your host’s humble servant, a role you cheerfully embrace. Follow your host into the kitchen and bring your gift along. “I brought you some chocolate almonds,” you say, as you place the gift on the kitchen counter. Then look around the kitchen to see what needs to be done. Do the obvious last-minute tasks without distracting your host from his focus on the scones. These tasks might include unwrapping the cheeses and placing them on a tray with some crackers and grapes, spooning the fig jam and the lemon curd into attractive bowls, placing biscotti and cannoli on the serving pieces for which they were intended, etc. Do not take over your host’s kitchen. Help him as unobtrusively as possible.

When the doorbell rings, say to your host, “I would be happy to greet the other guests. Will we be gathering in the living room?” Welcoming the other guests and making sure they are all comfortably settled in the living room will give your host the few minutes he needs to get the scones in the oven. Treat the other guests as though you are all embarking on a joyful adventure, and maintain a respectful attitude toward your host, letting everyone know that he will be joining you shortly.

In this little scenario, you have modeled the philosophy of afternoon tea. Spontaneity and a lighthearted touch of humor can help the philosophy of tea come alive. Even though the afternoon did not begin exactly as planned, harmony, humility, respect and creativity prevailed. When your host emerges from the kitchen, bearing a beautiful glass pedestal piled with hot, fragrant, Italian-inspired raisin and anise scones, you will seamlessly return to your former role as one of several guests. Now your job is to focus on the moment at hand—the glorious October afternoon, the voice of Luciano Pavarotti singing Puccini arias in the background, the tablecloth with a map of Italy draped over the tea table, the tiny home-baked biscotti bursting with toasted almonds. There is so much to celebrate, so much gratitude filling the room.

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THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

An Afternoon Tea for Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea