By: Rex "Ito Domo" Fortu
Community quarantine restrictions remain enforced in the Philippines and in other parts of the world, and big parties are still not allowed to prevent infection spikes. For sure this will impact a huge change in the summer scene as we all used to travel the islands, attend company summer outings, go on numerous beach escapades and celebrate provincial fiestas where endless food trips and revelries abound.
Full buffet events might not be advisable at these times but holding a mini tea party at home, why not? Who says we can’t have an intimate celebration with our family members? Better yet, invite your friends online and have an e-tea party session! Whether it be a traditional afternoon tea party or high tea after-dinner affair, we’re going to share with you some tips and ideas on how you can host your very own tea par-tea!
A traditional afternoon tea party may be held at around 4:00 to 6:00 PM. It calls for old-fashioned teapots and teacups but maybe you have a tea set heirloom from your grandmother, now is the perfect time to use it! You could use a low table or even the dining table and drape it with a white tablecloth. Decorate with fresh or dried flowers and your house plants!
For the refreshments, serve a variety of true teas and tisanes (herbal teas) for decaffeinated choices. You can choose from Havva Brew true teas:
- Youthful Infusion Tea
- Jasmine Blooming Flower Tea Balls
and Havva Brew tisanes:
- Apple Cinnamon Tea
- Turkish Sultan Tea
- Masala Tea
These teas could always be enjoyed hot brewed or cold brewed. Of course, no par-tea would be complete without munchies! You could serve savory finger sandwiches such as Egg & Cucumber Sandwich and Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwich.
Egg & Cucumber Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf white bread, sliced
- 1 hardboiled egg, peeled
- Cucumber, thinly sliced
- Mayonnaise
- Salt
- Pepper
Steps to follow:
- Remove the crusts of the white bread and slice into two.
- In a bowl, mash the hardboiled egg with a fork. Mix with mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper.
- Spread the egg mixture on the sliced bread.
- Layer with cucumbers.
- Sandwich with another sliced bread.
Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf white bread, sliced
- 1 piece of salmon
- Cream cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Steps to follow:
- Remove the crusts of the white bread and slice into two.
- Spread cream cheese on the sliced bread.
- Layer with salmon strips.
- Sandwich with another sliced bread.
Alternatively, you could go on the sweet route and have bread with fruit jam and cream, cake slices, tarts, and cupcakes.
Now if you want to host a hip and more modern par-tea then you gotta try tea cocktails! Who would have thought that teas are also incorporated in booze? Dating as far back in the 1700s, there may not be cocktails yet but tea was already used as an ingredient in punches served in parties and social gatherings which inspired mixing tea with our modern cocktails today. You could host a tea cocktail night after dinner around 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Here are some of our mixes which you can try at home and bring out the barista in you.
Tea Martini
Ingredients:
- 60 mL vodka
- 5 grams or 1 single serve sachet Havva Brew Hibiscus Tea (brewed according to package instructions)
- 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
- 1 tsp honey
Steps to follow:
- Mix vodka, hibiscus tea, freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey.
- Pour in a glass with ice and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Note: You will get the most flavor of tea by using the traditional hot brewing method. However, you would need to chill it before making a cold cocktail. You can do so by placing the brewed tea in the freezer for a few minutes.
Summer Iced Tea Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 30 mL rum
- 5 grams of 1 single serve sachet Havva Brew Tropical Fruit Tea (brewed according to package directions)
- 5 mL tequila
- 1 orange, freshly squeezed
- simple sugar syrup
Steps to follow:
- Mix rum, tequila, tropical fruit tea, freshly squeezed orange juice and simple syrup.
- Pour in a glass with ice and garnish with a sliced orange, a lemon, or even strawberries!
Silk Tea Whisky
Ingredients:
- 60 mL Havva Brew Silk Tea-infused whisky
- 30 mL soda water
- seedless grapes, frozen
Steps to follow:
- Instead of brewing silk tea in hot water, infuse 5 grams or 1 single serve sachet in 60 mL whisky for at least 2 hours.
- Mix with 30 mL soda water and add frozen grapes (in lieu of ice).
- Always remember that we still have to practice social distancing and proper hygiene at all times. Don’t be complacent and let’s drink responsibly.