Tea Blog

Sometimes it’s fun to add something new to tea time. If you’re not up for traditional British fare to your afternoon tea or tea party, why not try a few suggestions below? You can find them at your local market, bakery, or you can make them yourself! You may find a new favorite.

Petit Fours – French for “small oven”. Petit fours can be made into many shapes ranging from hearts or circles but the traditional shape is a square. They are small enough to be eaten in one or two bites. Petit Fours usually consist of cake or cookie and topped with marzipan or fondant frosting. French macarons are said to also be a petit four.

Tarts – Not just limited to custard and treacle! Jam, fresh fruit, and even chocolate tarts with buttery shortcrust pastry are making their rounds on the tiered tray. Tarts are enjoyed either full-sized or mini. There are no limits when it comes to tarts. Enjoy with vanilla custard topped with fresh berries or a salted chocolate tart!

Cheesecake – Sweet, creamy, and heavenly, cheesecakes are definitely a good dessert to add to your tea time. There are various takes on this classic, whether you prefer a Digestive crust, graham cracker crust, or no crust at all. To add some more flavor along with a pop of color, try adding canned cherries or blueberries on top. Other cheesecakes can be customized to your liking with flavors like chocolate, marble, or even candy bar themed. Malteser cheesecake, anyone?

Pie – Tea time pies don’t necessarily have to be limited to Christmas. While we love a good mince pie, sometimes we want to mix things up. Popular pies are apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, and pecan, but you can also try some pumpkin pie this holiday season or a cream pie (banana, chocolate, or coconut). Enjoy pies with tea either by the slice or try them in a miniature form.

French macarons – Extremely tricky to prepare (I would know from experience. It did not end well), these popular French sweets are delicate, with a light and crispy texture, similar to a meringue, sandwiched between a flavored buttercream. They are made in all sorts of flavors and colors. They are not to be confused with the coconut macaroon, an entirely different sweet. French macarons are also considered to be a petit four.

Fresh Fruit – For the health conscious or those who just want to enjoy seasonal fruit, this is one of the best options. Strawberries and cream or melon are perfect for summer or bake some apples and pears sprinkled with cinnamon for a healthy tea time treat.

-CD