Autumn Tea Party Ideas: Celebrate Fall with Cozy Sips and Seasonal Bites
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Autumn – one of my favorite times of the year! The air turns crisp and the leaves transform into a kaleidoscope of warm hues. What better way to welcome the cozy season than with the spiced flavors, seasonal treats, and warm conversations of an autumn tea party? Whether you’re an experienced tea connoisseur or simply love the idea of a festive fall get-together, this guide will help you plan an unforgettable fall-themed afternoon tea.
Invitations and Planning
Setting the tone for your autumn tea party begins with the invitations. Opt for a design that evokes the cozy, warm ambiance of the season. Think deep reds, oranges, and golds with touches of rustic elements like leaves, pumpkins, or autumn fruit. You can either send out physical invitations for a more personal touch or go digital with beautifully designed e-vites for a more convenient option.
When planning the event, consider the following:
Date and Time: Autumn afternoons are perfect for tea parties when the light is soft and the air is cool. Choose a date when the fall foliage is at its peak for an added touch of natural beauty.
Location: If weather permits, an outdoor setting surrounded by autumn leaves can be magical. Otherwise, an indoor space with large windows and plenty of natural light will create a warm and inviting environment.
Setting the Scene
Bring all the fall feels to your event by transforming your space into a cozy autumn retreat. By carefully choosing colors, textures, and natural elements, you can create an environment that captures the beauty and warmth of the season.
Color Scheme and Table Setting
Color Scheme: Embrace the deep, warm hues of autumn by incorporating shades of deep red, burnt orange, golden yellow, and rich brown into your décor. These colors evoke the changing leaves and the golden glow of an autumn sunset. Consider using a combination of these tones for your table linens, napkins, and even your teacups and saucers.
Table Settings: Set the table with elegant yet rustic elements that reflect the season. Use a textured tablecloth in a warm, earthy tone as the foundation, and layer with burlap or lace runners for added interest. Opt for vintage or mismatched china to give your table a charming, collected-over-time feel. Complete the look with gold or copper flatware, which adds a touch of warmth and sophistication.
Natural Accents: Incorporate natural materials like autumn-colored leaves into your décor. Wooden chargers or serving boards add a rustic touch to your table, while wicker baskets filled with seasonal fruits or nuts make lovely, functional decorations. Twine-wrapped jars can serve as vases or candle holders, adding a handmade, cozy feel.
Centerpieces: Create a centerpiece that celebrates the bounty of the season. A simple arrangement of pumpkins, gourds, and autumn leaves can make a beautiful focal point. For a more refined look, consider a centerpiece of seasonal flowers like dahlias, mums, and sunflowers in shades of orange, red, and yellow.
Lighting: As daylight fades, create a warm, inviting atmosphere with soft, ambient lighting. String lights draped around your space or woven through a garden trellis add a magical, twinkling effect. Place lanterns or candles around the area to create pools of warm light. If your tea party is held indoors and you have a fireplace, consider lighting a fire to add to the cozy, intimate feel.
Seasonal Tea Selections
Traditional black teas, such as Assam blends or the classic Earl Grey are always a good choice for a tea party. But why not take the opportunity to branch out into a few fall flavors? Here are some perfect options to add to your selection:
Spiced Teas
Chai: A classic choice for autumn, chai, like the luscious Plum Deluxe Vanilla Butternut Masala Chai, is rich with warm baking spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Serve with milk and sweetener for a creamy option, or enjoy it plain for a spicier kick.
Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Black Tea: Hot Cinnamon Spice is Harney & Sons’ most popular flavored tea. It’s a blend of black tea, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves. It’s naturally sweet and warming, making it both a crowd-pleaser and an ideal choice for a chilly autumn afternoon.
Plum Deluxe Rainy Day Puerh: For something unique, consider the Rainy Day Puerh from Plum Deluxe. It’s an interesting combination of puerh tea, cinnamon bark, orange peel, ginger root, anise, and sweet cinnamon, accented with beautiful orange-red safflower petals. Its sweet and spicy notes are perfect for celebrating the season.
Hojicha: This Japanese green tea is roasted to create a toasty, slightly sweet, almost chocolatey-flavored tea. Its low caffeine content makes it a great choice for late afternoon sipping.
Genmaicha: Another Japanese favorite, genmaicha is a blend of green tea and roasted brown rice. The nutty, popcorn-like flavor from the rice complements the grassy notes of the green tea, creating a unique and tasty brew.
Lapsang Souchong: For something a bit more adventurous, try Lapsang Souchong. This black tea is smoked over pinewood fires, giving it a bold, smoky flavor that’s reminiscent of a campfire in the woods. It pairs beautifully with savory foods and adds a touch of rugged sophistication to your tea offerings.
Lemon–Ginger Tea: Lemon-ginger tea is both refreshing and warming with a spicy, invigorating flavor that’s perfect for autumn. It’s caffeine-free, making it a great option for late afternoon. Ginger can also help settle tummies that may have overindulged on sweet tea treats. Not that any of us ever do that, right?! 😉
Harney & Sons African Autumn: This rooibos-based tea is flavored with cranberry and orange, offering a naturally sweet and fruity brew that’s caffeine-free and full of fall-season charm.
Pumpkin Spice Tea: Capture the essence of the season with pumpkin spice tea. The blend of warm baking spices is like sipping on a slice of pumpkin pie.
No tea party is complete without a selection of savory and sweet bites! When planning food for an autumn tea party, focus on cozy, roasty, and spiced flavors.
Savory Bites
While traditional tea sandwiches like cucumber or smoked fish have their charm, adding a seasonal twist to your savory selections will boost the autumn vibes.
Mini Grilled Cheeses with Caramelized Onions: Warm, melty, and full of flavor, mini grilled cheese sandwiches with caramelized onions are a perfect fall-inspired choice. Use sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, gruyere, or a combination of cheeses on sourdough bread or a hearty multigrain. The luscious caramelized onions will add a delicious contrast and extra gooey goodness.
Tomato or Roasted PumpkinSoup: Serve small bowls of warm tomato soup alongside the grilled cheeses for dipping—such a fun combination! Or, bring even more fall flavors to the party with a creamy roasted pumpkin soup. A sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds or a swirl of cream will add an elegant touch.
Mixed Nuts with Holiday Herbs or Spices: For a simple savory snack loaded with flavor, offer a bowl of mixed nuts tossed with a bit of butter and fresh holiday herbs like rosemary and thyme. If your guests enjoy some heat, spice things up by adding a dash of cayenne. This combination is savory and crunchy, contrasting nicely with the richness of the soups and grilled cheese.
Sweet Treats
British-Style Scones with Maple Butter or Cinnamon Honey You can never go wrong with fluffy, buttery scones at a tea party. These British-style scones from my sister site, Taste Of The Place, are a traditional addition, but for an autumn twist, serve them with flavored butter or honey that celebrate the season.
Maple Butter: Whisk softened butter with a drizzle of rich maple syrup for a sweet, creamy spread that melts beautifully on warm scones.
Cinnamon Honey: Blend honey with a touch of ground cinnamon for a sweet, spiced option that adds a cozy fall flavor.
For an extra kick, consider whisking in a pinch of ground ginger to either spread—it’ll bring a gentle warmth that complements the buttery richness of the scones.
Autumn Eton Mess with Cinnamon-Spiced Apples Eton Mess, typically made with strawberries, crushed meringue, and whipped cream, is a tasty and light dessert for a tea party. For a seasonal spin, swap out the summer berries for diced apples tossed in cinnamon and sugar, and add a touch of maple syrup to the whipped cream.
Cinnamon Apples: Gently sauté diced apples until tender or simply toss them raw in a mix of cinnamon, sugar, and a touch of lemon juice to keep them fresh and bright. Chill them in the refrigerator before layering with crushed meringue and whipped cream.
Maple Syrup Whipped Cream: Give the whipped cream a boost by whisking in a spoonful of maple syrup, adding a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon apples. Kick it up a notch by whisking in a dash of bourbon.
Pear and Apple Galette with Cinnamon-Infused Whipped Cream A galette, often referred to as a “rustic tart,” is an impressive yet easy dessert to serve at a tea party. My recipe for a Pear and Apple Galette is a seasonal showstopper that is surprisingly easy to put together.
Serving Options: Galettes can be made as a shared centerpiece for the table or crafted into individual galettes for each guest.
Cinnamon-Infused Whipped Cream: Serve the galette with a dollop of freshly whipped cream flavored with cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. The warm spices in the whipped cream complement the sweetness of the baked fruit, creating a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Get The Recipe – British-Style Scones
Light and fluffy, with just a hint of sweetness, fresh British-style scones are the perfect addition to any tea party.
An autumn tea party is more than just an event—it’s an experience that captures the essence of the season. From the rich, spiced teas to the cozy, inviting décor, to the seasonal treats, your tea party will be a wonderful celebration of friendship and fall’s beauty.
Additional Resources
A Beginner’s Guide To Brewing Loose Leaf Tea
In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Western-style tea brewing – a style that’s both approachable for beginners and offers plenty of breadth for the most discerning tea enthusiasts.
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