So you want to have Hi-Tea at you’re place? There are two essentials things that are needed to have Hi-Tea. The first is you should be Hi (the atmosphere is perfect) and the other of course is the Tea.
Generally tea is consumed in late afternoon and that can also be a replacement for late lunch or early dinner if you are an early bird (early to bed early to rise). Generally Hi-Tea is a bit more lavish as it contains more eatables than ordinary evening tea which usually consists of milk tea and a plate of biscuits.
Hi-Tea time, usually late afternoon, is more flexible to allow for guests and still have time in the evening to do other chores.
To throw a successful Hi-Tea the most important aspect is the atmosphere. One cannot simply set out trays laden with food and tea in a bed room while every one is scattered around the house.
The first thing is to set aside an area of the house that will allow some space and privacy.
The next thing is the sitting area. It can be a drawing room with a buffet table or a garden set with comfortable chairs that are set about a centrally located table (to set the tea and other food items).
Still not lavish enough?? Go to you’re local florist and get a big bunch of assorted seasonal blooms. Cut the stems and place the blooms randomly around the sitting area in beautiful glass jars. Jam jars and honey jars also make up good decorative vases. Arrange them so you and your guests are surrounded by the beautiful blooms but make sure that they don’t get in the way of the guests.
Use doilies under your plates, bowls and other tableware. Get some attractive napkins that go with the floral decoration and the tableware and oh yes don’t forget to polish that silver tea set!
To throw a perfect Hi-Tea proper table ware is of vital importance. Firstly the tea set is the center point of the event. Most people usually own ceramic tea sets which are usually decorated with flowers, be more elegant and serve eat in the silver tea set or have the fine gold or platinum china. Now-a-days modern looking tea sets have geometric designs or simply colors splashed on to them or are monochromatic (black and white or totally contrasting colors).
Other things that are essential are the tea cups and saucers, teaspoons, desert plates, desert forks and spoons, spreading knives, and the napkins. These can be placed on the table before hand or can be stacked neatly on the buffet table.
Other thing that completes the getting “Hi” or the atmosphere is numerous tea candles randomly placed around the setting and add some music that should provide the guests with a pleasant background.
Now coming to the main element of Hi-Tea is of course the Tea. These days there is a large variety of tea available in the market from the traditional yellow label to orange mint and jasmine. When serving tea, it is always best to offer as many different types as you can get and let the guests choose. The flavored tea usually comes in tea bags and can be placed in baskets and served along with a teapot of boiling water so the guests can choose what ever they fancy.
Mixed tea is also very popular among Pakistanis and is usually made from loose tea. The crushed tea leaves that come in boxes.
And keep a sugar pot and low calorie sweetener along with the tea.
Finally select the food that will be served with the different variety of teas. Some of the common items are
Sandwiches: chicken, beef, cheese, vegetable and other spreads. Try using an assortment of white and brown bread for weight conscious people.
Next add some cakes, short breads, biscuits and pastries to the food collection.
Then comes every one favorite NIMKO!! A must have for every Tea and Tea party.
Also the important part of the menu is the fried items (not for weight conscious people) shami kebabs, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, kebab sticks, fried chicken pieces and pizza.
Finally comes the eastern delicacy the Chaat Family: channa chaat, gool gappy, bhel puri, fruit chaat, lobia channa and dahi bhally these are light but fulfilling and they taste delicious.
So…Hi-Tea anyone???
Mohsin
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