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The holiday season brings with it a sense of magic, coziness, and an opportunity to gather with loved ones. Hosting a Christmas tea party can be a beautiful way to celebrate, combining the elegance of a tea gathering with the warmth and charm of the holidays. In this article, we’ll explore ideas for setting the scene, seasonal tea options, and easy food pairings to create a cozy and inviting Christmas tea that will bring everyone together.
Setting the Scene: Festive Decor and Ambiance
A few festive touches will create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your Christmas tea party. Start with a classic holiday color scheme, like rich reds, greens, and golds for a traditional look, or whites, silvers, and blues for a winter wonderland feel.
If you have a fireplace, hosting the tea party nearby adds a wonderfully cozy element, as the crackling fire offers warmth and ambiance. Decorate the mantel with a simple garland of pine boughs, pinecones, and twinkle lights to bring a winter wonderland feel to the space.
Table Setting Ideas
Dress your tea table with a seasonal table runner, holiday-themed napkins, and an elegant tea set to match the occasion. Or if you like a more casual feel, swap the elegant tea set for playful Christmas mugs. Miniature wreaths, sprigs of rosemary, or candy canes at each place setting add a decorative touch. Add small ornaments for guests to take home or festive place cards with each guest’s name for a personalized feel.
Lighting and Music
Set the mood with soft, warm lighting using candles or string lights around the room. Choose unscented candles to avoid overwhelming the space with strong aromas. Background music with holiday classics or soft instrumental tunes will add to the cozy ambiance.
Seasonal Centerpieces
Choose a centerpiece that reflects the winter season, such as a fresh poinsettia or a vase filled with pine boughs or pinecones. Or place a candle in a large vase surrounded by a ring of winter greenery for a simple yet beautiful statement. You could also create a rustic arrangement with dried orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise scattered around the table.
Christmas Tea Suggestions
A Christmas tea gathering calls for spicy, fruity, and nutty flavors, alongside a few timeless classics that are a must at any tea party.
Classic Teas Perfect for Any Tea Party
Include a few tea party classics, like Earl Grey or other traditional British legacy black teas such as Assam-based English Breakfast or Scottish Morn, and Ceylon blends like one of my personal favorites, Ceylon & India from Harney & Sons. These teas are a classic for a reason – they are bold and brisk, pairing well with a variety of tea-time treats.
A Few Of My Favorite Classic Tea Party Selections
Harney & Sons Black Tea, Earl Grey Supreme with Silver Tips, 4 oz
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Harney & Sons Scottish Morn Black Tea (4 oz tin)
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Harney & Sons Ceylon & India Tea | 4oz Tin, Loose Leaf Tea, also known as Orange Pekoe
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Spiced and Fruity Teas
Holiday teas with warm spices and festive fruit notes are perfect for a Christmas tea party. A chai blend, with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger, is the perfect addition. Spiced apple or cinnamon teas are always a favorite, while fruit-infused teas, particularly cranberry or orange, bring a slightly tart, fruity note that pairs beautifully with sweet holiday treats.
Visit Plum Deluxe for a wonderful selection of limited-edition holiday tea blends!
Homemade Chai Tea Recipe: Craft Your Own Perfect Blend
Dive into the aromatic world of chai tea with my easy DIY guide! In this post, I’ll walk you through the essential ingredients, customization tips, and a simple recipe that allows you to create your perfect cup at home. Whether you prefer it spicy, sweet, or with a unique twist, making your own chai not only elevates your tea experience but also gives you control over the flavors and freshness of your ingredients. Let’s brew up a spicy cup!
Toasty, Smoky, and Earthy Teas
Teas with roasty, toasty flavors like hojicha and genmaicha, smoked teas, such as lapsang souchong, or earthy teas such as pu-erh can create a wonderfully cozy feel. These teas offer a deeper flavor profile that complements savory tea sandwiches and other winter-inspired snacks. Lapsang souchong and many varieties of pu-erh are especially tasty with a splash of milk, so be sure to provide a small pitcher of fresh cream or half-and-half on the tea table.
A Few Nutty & Toasty Tea Suggestions
Harney & Sons Genmaicha Tea, 16 oz loose leaf
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Harney & Sons Lapsang Souchong Loose Leaf Tea
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Buy Now → Herbal Options
For guests who prefer caffeine-free choices, herbal teas with a holiday twist make a wonderful addition. Peppermint tea is a refreshing choice alongside sweet treats, while ginger tea has a warm, comfy flavor. Both are good choices for settling tummies suffering from a bit of overindulgence. Not that any of us have overindulged at a tea party! 😉
Unique Herbal Tisane Options
Plum Deluxe White Chocolate Peppermint Herbal Tea
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Plum Deluxe Lemon Ginger Rejuvenation Blend
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Let’s be honest, a tea party is really about the food, don’t you think? Be sure to include both savory and sweet bites, loaded with holiday flavors.
Savory Bites
- Mini Sandwiches: Put a holiday twist on classic tea sandwiches. Smoked salmon on toasted bread with a thin slice of crisp apple and a drizzle of honey is a sophisticated flavor combination. For a heartier option, try thinly sliced roasted turkey or roast beef dolloped with cranberry relish on whole-wheat bread.
- Pastry Bites: Puff pastry shells (store-bought for convenience or homemade if you’re feeling ambitious) make a versatile base for all kinds of delicious fillings. Fill them with creamy, melted brie and a dollop of cranberry sauce, or try gruyere cheese with caramelized onions, garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
- Holiday Nuts: A small bowl of mixed nuts, tossed with butter and fragrant herbs like rosemary or sage adds a nice crunch to the selection, and is perfect with roasted teas like hojicha or genmaicha.
Sweet Treats
- Holiday Scones: No tea party is complete without scones! Add a Christmasy flavor by mixing orange zest and dried cranberries into your scone batter for easy Cranberry-Orange Scones. Serve with clotted cream, whipped cream, or honey-cinnamon butter.
- Holiday Macarons: Macarons are always a hit at a tea party. Look for seasonal flavors like peppermint bark, cranberry, or spiced gingerbread at your favorite macaron shop.
- Festive Mini Cupcakes: Bake a batch of mini cupcakes in your favorite flavor and dress them up for Christmas. Simple white frosting dusted with sparkling sugar or red and green sprinkles makes for a festive finish.
- Seasonal Fruits: Add a refreshing, fresh flavor to the table with bowls of seasonal fruits. Pomegranate arils, red grapes, tangerine pieces, or crisp apple slices lightly tossed with lemon juice are a tasty contrast to all the sweet treats.
More Ideas for a Memorable Christmas Tea Party
Flavored Water
While tea is the star of the party, your guests will appreciate having another tasty thirst-quencher available. Combine sparkling, spring, or even plain old tap water with any of the following combinations, or use your creativity to come up with your own personalized flavored water blends. Just add a handful of fruit along with a piece or two of herbs or spices to a pretty pitcher of water and allow it to infuse for an hour or so.
- Cranberry and rosemary
- Cranberry and mint
- Orange and star anise
- Apple and cinnamon
Playful Tea Tags
Add a bit of whimsy with DIY tea tags! Attach festive tags to each teapot, labeling teas with holiday names like “Winter Wonderland Chai” or “Peppermint Cheer” for extra fun.
Tea-Themed Party Favors
Send guests home with small gifts like tea samplers, a holiday-themed tea infuser, or a bag of homemade sweet treats. Little favors add a memorable personal touch and keep the Christmas tea spirit going.
DIY Tea Blending Station
Set up a simple tea blending station with small bowls of loose leaf tea, dried fruits such as orange peel, cranberries, or apple slices, and dried spices like cinnamon sticks, ginger pieces, cloves, or star anise. Guests can make their own holiday tea blends to try or take home.
Additional Resources
British-Style Cream Tea: A Guide to This Classic Tradition
Discover the details of British-Style Cream Tea. Dive into this classic tradition, learn its history, and how to enjoy it at home. Ready for a cuppa?
What Tea To Serve At A Tea Party: 8 Tasty Selections
Discover the perfect teas for your tea party! From classic black teas to refreshing greens to soothing herbal tisanes, explore a curated selection of teas that will impress your guests and pair beautifully with traditional tea-time treats.
Autumn Tea Party Ideas: Celebrate Fall with Cozy Sips and Seasonal Bites
As the crisp air of autumn settles in, there’s no better way to embrace the season than with a cozy tea party! In this guide, we’re sharing all the inspiration you need to host an unforgettable autumn tea party, complete with seasonal tea selections, delicious fall-inspired food pairings, and cozy décor ideas. Ready to make your autumn gathering one to remember? Click through for all the details! 🍂☕
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.
Wrapping Things Up
A Christmas tea party is the perfect way to savor the joy of the season with loved ones, offering a cozy space to unwind, connect, and celebrate. With a few thoughtful touches—festive teas, seasonal decor, and tasty treats—you can create an inviting holiday experience that you and your guests will love.
Cheers to a warm and wonderful Christmas season!
