6
Tea Celebrations
introduction
I
n a day and age when we seem to move at far too fast a pace, teatime invites us to
slow down and savor some of the best things in life—relationships, food, and tea.
We cherish this long-held tradition not out of mere sentimentality and nostalgia
but rather because it allows us to reconnect with friends and family in ways that
are deeper, more personal, and certainly more memorable than quick electronic
exchanges via text message, e-mail, and social networks, as convenient as those
may be. Spending time around the tea table affords us moments to listen and share,
not just to hear and talk. We notice the sparkle of joyful eyes and detect the sorrow
in others. We encourage. We comfort. We laugh. And most of all, we celebrate the
importance of relationships.
Tea Celebrations
offers delightful tea menus for eight annual occasions that
draw us to our tables. From New Year’s Day to Christmas, the holiday afternoon
teas depicted in these pages are filled with delicious recipes created by the talented
professionals in
TeaTime
’
s test kitchen. A few of the dishes are classics that have
appeared in the magazine but are far too good to allow to fade from our memories
and our palates. Most of the recipes in this book are new, however, inspired by
these special events and served in beautiful settings that are sure to spark your own
creativity, among them, a lovely and impressive birthday-party tea.
Although the food and décor are of great importance, we should remember that
the quality of the tea served is as critical as the complementary flavors each selection
adds to the meal. We trust that our expert tea pairings for the various courses of
each menu will set your mind at ease as you host your next party. Because there are
different ways to prepare each type of tea, we have provided steeping guidelines on
page 91 to ensure a successful infusion.
Whatever the occasion, we hope you will find herein inspiration for hosting a
beautiful and flavorful afternoon tea that will allow you and your guests to savor
memorable moments together. Ultimately, those are the ingredients for the perfect
tea celebration.
T E A
C E L E B R AT I ON S
