How To Set The Table For High Tea
Everyone knows Mother's Day is one of the MOST important days of the year as you get to show your appreciation for the woman who dressed you in embarrassing outfits when you were younger, signed your permissions slips to go on cool school excursions, yelled out at you for being out waaay later than your curfew and cried tears of joy with you when you got accepted into University.
Yep, that's right. Mother's Day is all about spoiling your mum and showering her with more love, affection and gratitude than she knows what to do with.
Nothing says 'I love you mum', like food cooked right from the heart so why not set up a little high-tea to remind her just how special she is to you?
With a spread fit for a Queen, treat your mum to the delicious day she deserves with all our tips & tricks on how to set the perfect high tea table!
PS. At the end of this blog, there's also a perfect tea-time sandwich recipe for you to make.
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Tea Time Etiquette
Now putting together place settings can be a bit tricky (there always seems to be so many spoons and forks that are used for different purposes) but once you have the basics down, you'll become a pro in no time. Trust us and follow these steps!
1. As high tea is usually eaten in the afternoon as a light snack/meal, a smaller lunch or salad plate is ideal to start off your place setting. This is the perfect time to break out the new tableware you've recently bought!
2. The teacup is then placed to the left of the plate (always make sure the teacup handle is facing inwards).
3. Set out a knife and fork with the blade of the knife facing in.
4. Set the scene a bit if you want. Spruce up your table with some freshly scented flowers or perhaps a nice Glasshouse candle to brighten up the mood.
5. Try to find luncheon-size napkins (they're a bit smaller than dinner-sized napkins) and are usually around 20cm. Place them to the left of the plate or folded nicely on the plate with a napkin ring.
6. If you'll need a spoon, place it next to the knife on the right side of your plate.
7. Water glasses are also placed on the right side of the plate above the knife, next to the teacup.
Chicken & Apple Sandwiches With Poppyseed Mayo
You've made it to the recipe part of this blog, congrats! Finger sandwiches are an essential part of any high tea and these ones, full of moist chicken and crisp apple, are to-die for!
Ingredients
Serves: 24 Serves
- 1/2 large green apple, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 1/2 cups chicken breast, cooked & chopped
- 2 celery sticks, finely chopped
- 2 1/2 tbsps fresh chives, chopped
- 125g (1/2 cup) whole egg mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 1/2 tsps dijon mustard
- 16 slices soft light rye bread
- 2 tbsps butter, room temperature
- Baby herbs, to decorate
Preparation
1. Combine the apple and the lemon juice in a bowl, toss to coat it thoroughly.
2. Add the chicken, celery, chives, mayonnaise, poppy seeds and the mustard to the lemon juice mixture. Season to taste and mix it until it's well combined.
3. Arrange half of the bread slices on a work surface and spread them with the butter, then spread them with the chicken mixture.
4. Sandwich them together with remaining bread slices. Use a serrated knife to remove the crusts from each sandwich and cut each sandwich lengthways into thirds and decorate with baby herbs, if using.
5. Enjoy your little creations!
