Our series of How to Throw the Perfect Afternoon Tea continues today with a Christmas Tea! It’s the most wonderful time of the year and nothing is better than celebrating the winter season with those who are near and dear. We will help you from start to finish with the decor, food and what are the best teas to serve on this most perfect occasion. By the end of it all, your home will feel like a Winter Wonderland for children and adults alike.

Decor

First things first, the decor! Decor is one of the first things your guests will notice and it will help to set the mood and tone of the event. At Christmas time there are so many different elements that you can take inspiration from. If you want to go with traditional colors then you can’t go wrong with red and green with a splash of gold for a pop! Incorporating items like Holly with its red berries and green leaves can make for an elegant Victorian inspired flair. If you prefer to create a more casual experience, then a red and green checkered tablecloth can add a lot of color with very little work. To add the pop of gold, use gold chargers for each place setting or decorate the table with gold candle stands and unscented candles. If you prefer an icey, winter wonderland then utilize colors like blue, white and silver to create a frosted feel. Snowflakes scattered on the table with blue and white fairy lights create the perfect winter glow. Silver chargers, miniature snowmen, and blue and silver Christmas ornaments in a vase will make it feel like you brought a snowy winter wonderland inside.

Menu

Sweet treats and savory goodies, there is no better time of the year than winter because there are so many delectable goodies to choose from. Below we have shared 3 recipes perfect for any Christmas/Winter Afternoon Tea.

Gingerbread Cookies

There is nothing more synonymous with Christmas than Gingerbread Cookies. Below is a fantastic recipe from William and Sonoma that has been my go-to recipe for years. It’s even the recipe that helped win over the heart and stomach of my soon-to-be husband.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

2. Over a sheet of parchment paper, sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale yellow, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the brown and granulated sugars and beat for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and add the molasses, beating until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the egg and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.

4. Add the flour mixture in 4 additions, beating in each addition before adding more. Beat just until combined, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Using floured hands, form the dough into a smooth mound and divide into 4 equal portions. Shape each into a disk and wrap separately with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

6. Place racks in the top third and bottom third of an oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C). Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Remove 1 dough disk at a time from the refrigerator and let it stand for 10 minutes. On a floured surface, roll out dough to a thickness of 1/4 to 3/8 inch (6 mm to 1 cm).

8. Dip a cookie cutter into flour and cut out cookies and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough, rerolling scraps to cut out additional cookies.

9. Bake the cookies until edges are set and lightly browned on the bottom, rotating pans 180 degrees and from top to bottom halfway during baking, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets. Decorate the cookies as desired with colored sugars, decorating pens and royal icing. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Festive Tea Sandwiches

Finger sandwiches are a classic for afternoon tea. With the customary ones such as smoked salmon and cream cheese, cucumber and butter, and egg salad being the norm we found a fun and festive way to kick it up a notch!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ⅓ cup chopped fresh cranberries

• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ⅛ teaspoon pepper

• 16 slices bread, crust removed

• 16 to 24 thin sliced cooked chicken

• 8 lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. Combine the first five ingredients; spread on one side of each slice of bread.

2. Layer half the slices of chicken and lettuce.

3. Top with the remaining bread.

4. Cut into quarters or decorative shapes.

White Christmas Scones with Eggnog Glaze

Afternoon tea isn’t complete without serving scones. Being the most festive time of the year, these scones are packed with fun, seasonal flavors sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Scones Ingredients:

Eggnog Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 4-5 teaspoons light eggnog or eggnog liqueur

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat and set aside.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl or stir together with the flat paddle in the bowl of a stand mixer.

3. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt, eggnog, orange zest and an egg and whisk together.

4. Add grated or cubed butter to the flour mixture and mix with your hands or continue to mix in a stand mixture for about one minute on low.

5. Add the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture and mix another minute or so until well combined.

6. Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips. Do not overmix dough.

7. Place dough on a lightly floured work surface and shape into an 8” round and then cut into 8 equal-sized triangles.

8. Transfer the scones to your prepared baking sheet and brush egg nog.

9. Bake for 16-18 minutes. Scones should be a light golden color. Let cool.

10. Make the glaze and drizzle on scones.

Tea Selection

Here at Chado we carry five distinct Christmas themed teas, perfect to serve all Winter long! Below you will find the five teas and a little note about each.

Oh Christmas Tree

Our newly released blend is like Christmas in a cup! Let the flavors of orange, apple, cinnamon, and black peppercorn warm you with feelings of good cheer this holiday season. Whether you enjoy it fireside with your loved ones or as the perfect accompaniment for a Christmas afternoon tea, this blend will have you singing “oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches”.

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint and Chocolate, one of Christmas’s classic flavor combinations. Let our Peppermint Bark tea satisfy your sweet tooth this holiday season. Perfect as an after-dinner treat or a midday indulgence, we promise we won’t tell.

Gingerbread Cookie

When you mix together ginger root, licorice, allspice, and clove everyone’s favorite holiday treat comes to life, Gingerbread! Our Gingerbread cookie tea tastes like dessert in a cup and is the ultimate treat for your taste buds this holiday season. Our Chado team especially loves this particular tea in latte form, a treat you won’t want to miss!

Want to browse more of our products for your holiday shopping?

Check out our Selection of Teas we have to offer from all over the globe.