Tea Party Etiquette
The rules of etiquette apply to both children and adults. Keep in mind that, with children, many of the more in-depth rules won’t apply – just the basics. Also, with children, the most important thing is that they enjoy themselves and the company.

So that you are more comfortable with taking tea, we’ve compiled some basic information and rules of etiquette.

• A proper invitation not only communicates the time and place, but also for what the guest should prepare. For instance, if the tea is in your garden, the invitation may ask you to bring a hat.


• During full tea, three courses are served such as scones, tea sandwiches, and sweets. Light tea will have just scones and sweets.


• Jam or curds is usually placed on the scone and then topped off with a dollop of clotted cream. Simply spoon a small amount of jam or curds onto your plate, as well as some of the clotted cream. 


• The hostess should be mingling and entertaining her guests while some special friends share the duties of pourer. Depending on party size, one or two guests to act as pourer's. No one person should pour for more than 30 minutes.


• Smaller teas and children’s teas are usually given at a table. Larger teas are typically served buffet style, and guests may sit or stand.


• For teas at a table, the napkins can be placed on the plate or to the left side. At a buffet, they are placed near the cutlery.


• Never blot or wipe your lipstick with a linen or cloth napkin. Lipstick stains rarely come out in the wash.
 

• As a guest, if the tea is at a table, remember to unfold and place the napkin in you lap. If you have to leave the table, the napkin should be picked up by the middle and placed in your chair. Never place the used napkin on the table until the tea is over.


• If you’d like to, use two teapots – one pot of very strong tea, and one pot of hot water. You or the pourer asks guests how he or she would like their tea - strong, medium, or weak. Then you mix the water with the tea to get the right solution.


• At smaller teas, once everybody is seated, the hostess pours the tea and always ensures that each guest's cup is full. The hostess then offers milk (never cream, since it is too heavy for tea), sugar or lemon. Lemon is best served in thin slices that can be floated in the cup.


• Milk and lemon must never be added to the same cup, since citrus instantly spoils the milk.


• When stirring your tea, be careful not to clink your spoon against the cup. Gently swish the spoon back and forth without touching the sides of the cup.


• If the tea is hot, do not blow on the tea. Leave your teacup on the table to cool.


• When through stirring, remove the spoon and place it on the saucer behind the teacup and to the right of the handle.

 
• When standing and drinking tea, you can hold the cup and saucer near your chest, then take the teacup off the saucer and bring it to your mouth. If you are sitting and drinking tea, leave the saucer on the table.


• Hold your teacup by its handle, using a bent index finger and thumb to pinch the handle. Unlike the grasp used with a coffee mug, you never want to ring your finger through the handle. Do not stick your pinky out when drinking tea. Just hold the teacup normally.


• If all the courses are laid out on the table, eat them in this order: first the scones or muffins; then the tiny sandwiches, and last the sweets.


• It is okay to eat most items with your fingers at a tea party. If something is has a runny filling, then use a fork.


• Take bites of the tiny sandwiches. Never stuff the whole thing in their mouth, even though it's small.


• If tea is served buffet style, never put dirty dishes or napkins back on the tea table.


• The hostess signals the end of the tea party by placing her napkin on the table. At this time, guests do the same.