Entertaining with Tea

Why not transform an everyday staple — tea — into an entertainment centerpiece? Tea comes in a wide variety of flavors, making it a delicious accompaniment to many dishes. This weekend, invite some friends over for a memorable gathering featuring a diverse selection of teas and complementary foods. Use our guide to help you throw an impressive event with ease.

Tea selection
Food to serve with tea
Team room atmosphere
Tea party activities

Tea selection

When choosing what types of tea to serve for your party, don't be afraid to experiment with new flavors and presentations.

Offer your guests a chance to try a few different types of teas. Black, green and herbal teas all taste delicious — but you can also use your party as an opportunity to try exotic varieties, like red and white teas!
Are your guests big fans of black tea? Serve a variety of blends — Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast are some of the better known — and let them discover their favorites. Provide a range of add-ins for the tea such as honey, sugar, lemon, and milk.
If you're in the mood for iced tea, brew flavored fruit or herbal tea double-strength and pour over ice to cool it. Serve your home-made iced tea with sliced fruit, mint leaves and lemon slices and let your guest jazz up their drinks as they wish.

Tip: Thread the fruit on skewers for pretty presentation and easier handling.
When you plan your next party, skip the sugary soft drinks and try one of our refreshing iced tea recipes instead:
- Bubbly Iced Tea: Experiment with soda flavors for a fun twist each time you make this citrusy and thirst-quenching tea.
- Peachy Iced Tea Sangria: The fruit adds a pleasant burst of flavor, making an exciting drink.
- Apple Iced Tea: Apple juice provides an easy add-on to dress up iced tea for a special occasion.
- Lemony Iced Tea: This delightful beverage costs you next to nothing to make.
- Sparkling Peach Tea: Try adding some fresh peaches to make this drink even more refreshing.

Foods to serve with tea

When planning a tea-themed party, keep the accompanying food simple so guests can focus on the complex tea flavors. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cheese trays: Serve a variety of cheeses with fresh baguette slices or crackers.
Sandwich trays: Buy a prepared platter from the Giant Eagle^® Deli or purchase delicious ingredients and make some fun finger sandwiches of your own. These Tea Sandwiches make a perfect lighter meal — or a starter to a savory main course.
Biscotti: These large biscuits obtain their crunchy texture through two rounds of baking — and the crunch holds up when you dunk them in tea. Try these Chocolate Chunk Scones to serve at your party, or try the wide selection of cookies available at your Giant Eagle^® Bakery and treat your guests to beloved sweets, like Mini Lady Locks or Butter Ball Cookies.

Tea room atmosphere

A tea party does not require extravagant decorations or a fancy location. Select a few key pieces to embellish the table, but let the tea be the main centerpiece of the event. Check out some of our decorating suggestions to get you started:

Make flowers the centerpiece of every table, and you'll add elegance to the room.
Light a fresh scented candle to add serenity to the setting. Scents like lavender and sandalwood soothe and de-stress guests after a long week.
Elegant paper plates and crystal disposable utensils make clean up easy without sacrificing sophistication.
A set of teacups does not have to cost a lot, but adds an easy decorative touch while enhancing the tea-drinking experience.

Tea party activities

While choosing activities for your party, keep them engaging, yet low key, to give guests a chance to indulge in the tea.

Invite some friends over to watch a movie followed by a discussion over tea.
Card games make for a good activity without interrupting conversation. Make sure to have a few decks on hand to get a variety of games going at once.
Who doesn't love board games? Make this an excuse to bring out some old-time favorites — and see how you match up!
Invite your guests to bring their favorite music and discover some new songs.
Inviting little ones? Encourage them to bring their favorite stuffed animals or dolls for a "teddy bear picnic." Show movies or play games that appeal to the younger set.

Giant Eagle^® makes entertaining with tea easy!