The Singles Forum Goes to a Tea Party! (Come Join Us for a Spot O'Tea!)

Is it light, medium, or dark roast?

And what kind of snacks 🍪🍩🍰 do you like to pair with it? 😬

Poor Susanna -- I feel like a total failure!!

I'm just not a drinker. I really don't like the taste of most alcohol unless it's a flavoring and very watered down, or used in a recipe.

And I've never been officially tested, but I think I'm allergic -- I can have a little bit but a full glass would set my face on fire, make my heart was about to pound right out of my chest, and I'd probably hurl on your brand-new boots.

I have similar reactions to caffeine, though not as severe, but I have yet to break my morning coffee habit.

I've read that a lot of Asians are lacking an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, and that's exactly how it feels -- like it's constantly circulating in my system and I can't get rid of it.

Unfortunately, there are reasons why I always say I'm a boring nerd!

Hey Everyone,

This thread is inspired by a fellow member who said in a recent thread that he could see me (and another CC member) as being princesses at a tea party. And this got me thinking...

It's been a long time since I wore a "princess dress" -- my high school prom, in fact, which was a LONG time ago , but I have fond memories of enjoying the honor of attending 2 tea parties with my Mom and a ladies' group she was part of. It was such an amazing experience!

Now I'm not really a princess-y type girl -- my "style" is definitely more jeans and t-shirts (featuring my favorite cartoon characters, of course!) But it was really inspirational to see these older ladies in my Mom's group being so excited to dress up for a "fancy" day out. Some of these women were in their 70's and 80's, but they dressed to the full nines in twirling, bright-colored dresses with large, fancy hats that had wide, elegant brims and decorations. These ladies were bubbling with enthusiasm and life, and I couldn't help thinking, "Yeah, these are the gals I want to be like when I grow up!"

But the best part for me is that our host and her mother, who were the owners of the tea house, were actually from Britain, and had set up their little shop to include a genuine British phone booth, like this:

View attachment 264817

Everything about the place had a wonderful, authentic touch. Some of the goodies we were served were even made from the host's mother's own family recipes, and the host's British accent was like a beautiful song. I loved that it not only was everything scrumptious, beautiful, and fun, but we were getting a mini cultural lesson right along with it!

I have a good CC friend who is pretty much a tea connoisseur, and one of the things I look forward to when visiting her again someday is that she's promised to take me to the local tea house. Maybe this time I'll even wear a princess dress! (AND a tiara if I'm really feeling feisty!)

Therefore, I think the Singles Forum and Friends should have their very own tea party as well. (My friend said she HAS seen men at tea parties, though they were most likely there with their wives and not on their own.)

And don't worry about the usual "stuffy" dress codes -- at this party, people can come just as they are.

* Have you been to, or would you try going, to a tea party? (If not, what's more your style -- a coffee house?) Perhaps a winery or brewery?

I love the establishment of beverage culture! I don't like alcohol as a drink (I see it as something for recipes,) but I went on a tour of a winery that showed us the barrels the wine was aging in and explained how different types of wood affects the flavor, etc. I just find the process of how things are made, the different notes and flavors, etc., to all be fascinating -- so it definitely doesn't have to be just tea!

If you have been to other beverage-related places or would like to, tell us where you went or where you want to go! I would love to see the Starbucks flagship roastery. I'm not big on Starbucks coffee, but I would really love to see how the whole shebang works.

How about all of you?

* What kinds of tea (or other beverages) would you be interested in?

* What will you wear? (Do you like the chance to dress up, or are you going to show up in last night's pajamas?) Totally acceptable in our group, by the way -- no judgments!

* Who will you be bringing as a guest, if you would like to bring one? (I, of course, will be bringing my mom!)

* What kinds of food/snacks have you tried at such places, or what would you like to try?

View attachment 264818






View attachment 264820

Personally, I am not big on scones, which are apparently seen as a staple for afternoon tea (I find them to be a bit dry,) but I loved the little cakes, clotted cream (the host's mother's own recipe,) and was surprised that I didn't even mind the cucumber sandwiches, because I normally don't like cucumber.

How about all of you?

Pull up a chair, fill your cup, and tell us how YOU would feel about attending a Singles Forum Tea Party! (Or, beverage event of your choice.)

We have plenty of coffee ☕ lovers here on the forum... Another of whom is lurking... Cough cough, @RodB651, cough.

I did some frog legs once. Tasted like chicken. Well, sorta.

I tried those and they tasted like fish to me.

I am so definitely dressing up. Otherwise it isn't really a tea party to me, though I will take you all as you are. I'll have an Earl Grey pot of tea, some of those tiny little sandwiches and sweets on a three-tiered tray, and a scone with cream and strawberry preserves, though I know lemon curd is more traditional.

As for men being there, the idea that they aren't is mostly American. The year Papa dropped dead, Mom wisely recognized that Christmas would be painful to try to do as usual, so she took us all to Victoria B.C., which has been described as the most European-like city in North America. God and my brother-in-law then managed to get us reservations for high tea at the Empress Hotel (a hotel so fancy it has a special entrance for when the queen/king of England visit) right when the carolers arrived (I think that part was God). Anyway, as my sister noted, there were lots of business men there having tea like it was normal. Plus the aforementioned bro-in-law is an anglophile himself who likes his tea.

And at least coming to a tea party hosted by my mom isn't for the faint of heart anyway even if she doesn't serve snake or shark, or whatever. Before my sisters were married, their then-boyfriends, now husbands, were both invited to a tea party at my family's home. My mom went shopping for novel things to serve and made up a tray of colorful veggies. At one point, the elder boyfriend picked up a small pepper and ate it. The younger boyfriend then did likewise, only he followed it up by picking up the cream pitcher and drinking it straight down. Turned out my mom had bought cute little hot peppers by mistake, and since the elder boyfriend is a quiet man who likes to eat really hot things, he didn't let on that it was, as he acknowledged later 'up there' for hotness.

I loved this post -- thank you so much for sharing!

I'm so sorry about your father and pray that God continues to comfort your family.

What really struck me was your observation of men who were attending High Tea as an everyday occurrence -- I love the contrast of different things being placed within different cultural contexts. In the USA, a man at a tea party would be seen as something only a sissy would do -- in England, it's not only normal but probably expected. Love it! I wish they would make the the norm here.

And the pepper story was hilarious!!

Oh, that poor younger boyfriend.