Gone are the days of prim and proper formal tea parties where women wear white gloves and frilly lace dresses. Today's busy woman is looking for fun and entertainment, not stuffy tea etiquette rules.Formal tea parties can be intimidating affairs to the novice tea drinker or first time attendee. All those vintage decorations, flowers, lace and fancy delicate china can be a bit overwhelming to the modern gal of today. Tea etiquette wasn't taught in business school. What does one do with that little gold spoon? (Stir your tea.) Are those tiny flowers on the sugar cubes for real? (They're made of frosting.) Do you really drop them into your teacup? (Yes.) What does one do with a wet tea bag? (There should be a little teapot shaped dish to put it in. If not, place it on your saucer.) What in the world is a savory? (A tea sandwich.) How do you eat a scone? (Break it in half, spread with jam or lemon curd and Devonshire cream and eat like finger food.)
Even if guests have never attended a tea party before, they can relax and enjoy the fun and food as the focus is on the mystery and not on proper tea etiquette. Devonshire cream is spread while the guests spread fun into the party as they read their script. How to properly eat a scone and the proper folding of a napkin fade in importance as the mystery plot unfolds.
Mystery parties have become a popular new and unique way to provide entertainment for women's gatherings of all kinds. Book clubs, sororities, country clubs, church groups, Red Hatters, tea societies, tea rooms and retirement centers are just a few that offer mystery tea parties as special events.
The popularity of tea is growing as more and more people learn the amazing health benefits of tea drinking. Many coffee bars now offer a variety of tea drinks. Proper tea etiquette is forgotten as steaming hot teas as well as frothy iced teas are served in Styrofoam or paper cups. Fancy little spoons engraved with flowers are replaced with a wooden or paper stir stick.
Tea Houses are popular places to try the many blends of teas and tisanes. There you will find black, green, white or oolong teas from exotic places, with equally exotic names. You can purchase tea in loose leaf form, or in tea bags, as most of us are accustomed to. Tea houses offer a place to try new blends, and provide a place to meet friends, chat or perhaps just sit and read while enjoying a good brew.
The mystery of formal tea etiquette is replaced with casual relaxation over a cup of tea.
Maxine Holmgren is a writer of mystery tea party plans, tea enthusiast, playright and certified personality trainer. She has been active in many community theatre groups as well. Her combined interest in all of these things led to writing hilarious mystery theme tea party plans. The plans can be purchased as a download or hard copy sent by mail at http://www.mysteryteaparties.com