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Afternoon TeaIt's tea time! High Tea - Saturday afternoon at Gloucester Square - for our guests and friends in the community. "Tea" can also be arranged for you here at Cawthra Square if you wish a simpler affair! 
Victorian afternoon teaAnna, Seventh Duchess of Bedford had long been afflicted with a tired, sinking feeling every afternoon around 4 o'clock, in the long interval between lunch and dinner. One afternoon in 1840, she plucked up her courage and upset the household routine by asking for a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake to quell the pangs of hunger. Her request became a matter of habit and rather than break it she spread the idea of tea parties served in the home amongst her friends.
 On the menuThe menu for afternoon tea is really very simple; a broad assortment of tea itself, small delicate sandwiches, and cakes and/or biscuits.  "Tea" at Cawthra SquareCan be as simple as tea and biscuits (British cookies) while you relax with a friend, or do that work you brought home...  ...or "High Tea" which includes an extensive buffet at the ever-so-elegant Rundle Mansion. Over the years, High Tea has become an art form as our collection of teas, books, cups, pots, and strainers has grown.  So, do join us for TeaIt's not just about the tea you know. We invite our guests and guests of guests to join our tea party. But we also invite people from the community. You never know who you might meet.  Afternoon tea is a graceful eventTea time conversation is sweet and light. Small group chatter and the exchange of pleasant news is appropriate. Even our most outgoing guests somehow fall under the spell of the occasion and behave like ladies and gentlemen. It is not uncommon for our Tea Parties to adopt a theme. There have been hat parties, Tiara parties... simple and fun ice-breakers.  Hats optionalYou can wear any hat you like when you come to our home for tea. Or no hat at all. It's up to you. We welcome all types of hats ;)  Tea-tastingWe like to have guests try an assortment of teas. In fact, tea-tasting is much like wine-tasting. There are varieties and blends, and tea is judged on quality, character, age, strength, and color. And just like almost all wine begins with a variety of grape, almost all tea belongs to the same evergreen plant of the camellia family.  Appreciate the flavorA bit of milk or cream is the traditional partner for a cup of tea. No lemon, and we suggest avoiding sugar to really appreciate the flavor. Placing milk in the cup before adding the tea ensures a better mixing of the tea and milk. Be sure to use a strainer to catch the leaves when you pour the tea into cups. A tea ball or infuser can be used inside the pot to avoid this step, but if the leaves are packed too tightly together, they won't be able to release their full flavor. This is the major drawback to tea bags. We sometimes compromise by using a very large tea ball. |
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Cawthra Square
