Guest Picks: Afternoon Tea Delight
But once in the land where taking tea is as vital to daily life as breathing, I had to pay attention. Once I clued in that it is absolutely essential to offer your guests tea when they arrive to your home — whether you drink it or not — I tried a cup in the name of friendly cheer and found the custom to be irresistible, if not the drink itself.
A few years on and I do enjoy a cup of Earl Gray or mint, using fresh leaves. But even more, I've developed a love for the tradition of British pottery and the charm it adds to the daily ritual of afternoon tea.
My growing collection is dominated by Wedgwood — my favorite potters who have been around since 1759 — along with some Noritake and Royal Albert pieces, and I'm always searching for unique sets created by independent ceramicists.
My guests get to choose their cups and teacups, and most now have a favorite.
This ideabook is a collection of beautiful items that make tea, at any time of day, alone or with friends, a joyful indulgence.
— Denise from The Swelle Life
I think this may be the most charming teapot in existence. The elegant style and just-ornate-enough detailing in gold, turquoise and crimson makes The Queen of Hearts the favorite of my personal collection. Its small size is perfect for individual serving and it looks fantastic on display. Mine is set on a white shelf in the kitchen beside the matching cup and saucer, with the tiny sugar bowl and creamer in front, and a blush pink canister of Laduree's Marie Antoinette tea sitting behind the collection. The pale blue and shimmer floral gift box it comes in is worth keeping as a decorative item as well.
I like each detail of afternoon tea to be well considered, right down to the plate for serving the sandwiches. The sandwich tray is a nice alternative to the cake stand, especially if the offerings are kept on the lighter side. The Polka Rose design is a Royal Albert design from the 1930s and still looks fresh today. The classic, sweet and simple style mixes beautifully with other designs, or you can match it with other pieces from the collection.
I love this glorious little teacup for its delicate floral pattern in lilac and pink (carried through to the inside of the cup) and the sharp deco styling of the handle. It's lovely to look at as well as for drinking tea.
I love the old-fashioned English teaspoon with its petite, dainty shape. This one is silver-plated, which gives the spoon a hint of a vintage patina — perfect on the side of a pretty vintage teacup.
This gorgeous ceramic tea caddy is as much a centerpiece for the table as it is handy for storing my favorite teas. It's little, so it can fit on most serving trays and the smallest of tables. It's lovely on its own, or matched with the other items from Wedgwood's Butterfly Bloom collection.
I love the nostalgic feel of Orla Kiely's 1970s design, which is well represented on this sugar bowl with its ochre-yellow coloring, teak-looking wooden-handled lid and her own Linear Stem print. It's a bold graphic piece that makes a nice change from the dainty floral tea sets.It's made of ceramic and freijo wood.
When I want to make afternoon tea a bit more special, I place a saucer cracker on the side and watch my guest's face light up. The pretty floral and lace patterned paper conceals a little scroll with a joke, a piece of trivia and a conversation-creating topic.
This Victorian cake stand is everything one should be for a traditional presentation at its loveliest. Introduced in 1827, the Asiatic Pheasant design became the most popular pattern of the Victoria era.
I love the turquoise, polka dots and vintage floral pattern of this tray, which can make for a wonderfully busy presentation when set. Made from melamine, it's ideal for the little spills we always seem to get from our teapots.
I love the idea of a proper linen napkin; it completes the formal tea setting perfectly. This style in white features floral hand embroidery and is hemstitched for simple elegance. Use them with a traditional tea setting or add softness to a modern presentation.
I like to keep my tea kettle on the hob, and the polished copper finish of this teapot makes it a gorgeous kitchen accessory in addition to being an essential appliance.
This is such a pretty accessory for the table as well as a lovely solution for where to put the used tea bags. This porcelain tea tidy features a butterfly and flora pattern in blue which would work beautifully with Delft pottery.
Sometimes I like to bring a little gift for the friend who hosts the nicest afternoon teas. The three caddies in this set of loose-leaf teas are lovely keepsakes in a romantic, pastel floral design. The set contains three favorites: Breakfast Earl Gray, English Breakfast Tea and Afternoon Tea.
I love the clean, bold lines of this platinum-banded side plate. In fine bone china, it's distinctively elegant and makes for a stylish afternoon tea. Plus, it's dishwasher safe.
Who knew a tea strainer could be so pretty? The lovely pastels in bone china, is finished with a lustrous gold rim. It matches the Wedgwood Harlequin Collection Butterfly Bloom teacup, but would make a beautiful mix-and-match look with a variety of plain and patterned teacups.
I'm won over by an infuser that makes your tea even nicer as well as adding charm to your cup. The stainless steel basket is microperforated to prevent the tiniest bits of the leaves from tainting your tea. The long stem and leaf handle make it easy to remove the infuser when it's finished steeping, and slots in the lid refilter water and prevent pooling.
Sometimes bold and rustic is a nice change from the dainty and delicate tea service, especially when being joined by a gent or two. Le Creuset is my go-to for its hard-wearing, fully-enameled stoneware in a range of colors. The milk jug features an easy pour spout and comfortable handle.
A teacup collection isn't complete without a piece of English chintz, or the traditional hostess set. This one-handed design in lilac, rose and violet allows the teacup to rest on the saucer while you indulge in your cake. It is bone china, finished in gold trim.
My favorite tea when I'm feeling decadent is whole rosebuds. The pale pink flowers look gorgeous in the cup and the perfumed aroma is absolutely heavenly. I like to scatter a few on the table sometimes, but I'm always sure to put them back in the tin!Next: More Tea and Coffee Accessories
The heat of the tea wouldn't even be enough to keep me from running my fingers over the exquisite texture of this Edwardian lace-embellished teacup. The cup and saucer are glazed in a gorgeous celadon blue and finished with an iridescent mother of pearl lustre. Display the set on a shelf or side table to enjoy it outside of tea time. Suggested tea? It has to be rose petal!
Q