Throwing a vegan Tea Party is a great way to socialize and have fun with your veggie (and non-veggie!) friends and family.
Afternoon tea parties are a generally British tradition, that started in the 19th century, after duch*ess Anna, having being hungry in the afternoon all the time, started to have a cup of tea and a light snack, before the big evening meal.
Nowadays, people all over the world have this fun afternoon meal/event.
So, why not vegans, as well?
How to Host a Vegan Tea Party
1. Tools and Decor
Teacups and teapot
I absolutely love teacups.
They are so cute and elegant at the same time, and I admit it’s not only tea I drink from it (just like with wine glasses; I am alcohol intolerant so I don’t drink wine, but I like to drink apple juice from a wine glass and pretend it’s wine… I swear I’m a functioning adult woman).
Fun fact: the holding up of the little finger actually stopped being a thing, when Britts changed the type of cup they drink from. It was used as a balancing technique.
You will of course need something to pour the tea from.
I like to choose matching cups and pots, so they have a nice orderly vibe about them.
Vegan Warning: a lot of china (porcelain) products contain bone char, so when you purchase one, make sure they are vegan-friendy.
Cake stand
Something about cake stands just screams fancy.
Usually I’m not all for fancy things, but afternoon tea parties are a completely different things. To me at least they are all about feeling like a royal for a few hours.
Having a cake stand on the table can really give your party a “royal” feel. Also, it is a nice display for all the delicious sandwiches, cakes and scones.
Table decoration
You don’t really have to go to extremes with table decorations, but a few tasteful pieces will brighten up the scene.
These can be a flower bouquet in a vase, candles or name holders to name a few.
2. Tea ( Duh.)
Now obviously, this is the most crucial part of it all.
You can basically have any tea of your choice, but if you would like to stick with more traditional afternoon tea, you can choose from Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong varieties.
3. Milk
For traditional english tea lovers, this is the second most important thing oin the list.
I was never a milky tea lover myself, so I stick with the plain ol’ leafs, but for the majority of you, I recommend Oatly’s Barista, which is a perfect creamy plant milk to pair with tea.
4. Savory Finger Food
During an afternoon tea party, traditional savory finger foods, like small sandwiches and bites are served. The most popular savory food ingredient is cucumber.
Here you can find a few vegan afternoon tea party recipes, that will surely be a huge success.
Cucumber Tea Sandwich
Mediterranean Pinwheels
Spicy Chickpea Avocado Cucumber Bites
5. Tea Cakes and Scones
Tea cakes and scones are another main food to serve with tea. They are delicious and you can pair them with any jam you like. I mostly recommend berry jams, like strawberry, raspberry or blueberry.
Afternoon tea parties are really the best occasions to have dessert without feeling guilty (besides on your birthday).
Strawberry Shortcakes
Cherry Almond Cake
Blueberry Lemon Almond Cake
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Swedish Semla Buns (gluten-free)
6. Tiny Sweets and Pastries
Aquafaba Macarons
Drunken Strawberries
Petit Fours
7. Other Drinks
It’s recommended to serve a few non-alcoholic drinks to your guests besides the tea. My favorites include, rose and strawberry lemonades, vegan organic sodas or berry/mint infused waters.
Apple Cider Mimosa
Lavender Lemonade
Strawberry Mint Hibiscus Iced Tea
8. Champagne
Traditional afternoon tea party lovers are surely familiar with the serving of champagne. This is really an optional thing and mainly for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. But if you would like to indulge with a glass of pinkish beige bubbly fun on a Tuesday afternoon (without being judged), this is your opportunity.
More sweet treats for a vegan tea party:
- brunch recipes
- muffin recipes
- banana desserts
- matcha recipes
- brownie recipes
- candy bar recipes
- funfetti recipes
What are *your* favorite vegan tea party recipes?
Let me know in the comments below!
