Tea Etiquette Tidbits

Do you know which way to point the spout of the teapot once it’s placed on the table? Do you know what kind of napkins to offer your guests? Do you know how to properly sip tea? Here are some useful tips you can use at your next traditional or buffet tea.

The Teapot: When the teapot is placed on the table the spout should point towards the hostess.

Serving: An experienced hostess will serve the foods in order, scones, sandwiches, and then dessert.

The Teaspoon: After you have stirred your tea, rest the teaspoon in your saucer. It is not proper to place it on the table or serving tray.

Sipping: How many of us recall images of a someone lifting their little finger as they sip tea. Well in all actuality it isn’t proper etiquette neither is leaving a lipstick print on the cup.

The Napkin: If you are hosting a tea party etiquette states you should offer cloth napkins, not paper. The napkin should be completely unfolded and placed on your lap and keep it laid flat.

How To: Here is one place where its okay to eat with your fingers, but foods must first be placed on your plate before you start to indulge yourself. When eating scones break off small pieces and eat a small bite at a time. Do not use a fork to eat the scone. Savor the tea sandwiches one small bite at a time instead of shoving the entire thing in your mouth! Desserts should be presented on the tray in individual servings.

Once you have finished, leave your plate in front of you and fold your napkin and place it to the side of the plate, but not on the plate.

When adding sugar cubes take care not to dip the sugar tong or sugar spoon into the tea.

The proper way to drink tea when seated at a table is to leave the saucer on the table and only raise the cup. However if you are not seated at a table you should lift both the saucer and the cup to your chest then lift the teacup off the saucer and sip. When you are not drinking, the cup should rest in the saucer on your lap.

The Painted Wall

I live in a 1910 home with my husband and even though it’s come a long way since we bought it 14 years ago, there are still plenty of projects to keep us busy. One of the first rooms my husband and I renovated was the entryway. I envisioned an elegant room gilded with autumn colors, red and amber, but my husband wanted chubby cherubs. Get this – he picked out the wallpaper border! He’s so domesticated (haha).

I painted the ceiling a sky blue, and glazed blue stripes on the walls and glazed the baseboards to match. I smeared clouds on the ceiling, and I say smeared because I really don’t have much talent when it comes to painting. I found some cherubs online, re-worked them in PS, then printed and cut them out and decoupaged them onto the ceiling. We also added the wainscotting and the chair rail, but what tied it all together was the ribbon on the ceiling.

I had a local muralist, The Painted Wall, paint the ribbon. It was enthralling to watch the artist effortlessly mix the color to match the ribbon that was on the wallpaper border. The entire ribbon took less than 30 minutes to paint - I couldn't believe it! It would have taken me at least a week with no guarantees that I wouldn't blotch it up. The ribbon made all the difference. Sometimes I find myself just laying on the floor and staring up at the ceiling:)


Before, during and after shots.

Useful Resources:

This Old House Painting Historical Interiors

BEHR Victorian Splendor

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Desktop Wallpaper

An elegant setting for tea, and for your desktop too!

Click on image to enlarge. Size is 1024 x 768. Hope you like it!