Tea Etiquette

A quintessential part of curating the perfect cup of tea, which has gotten lost with the commercialization of tea, is tea etiquette. Abiding by the guidelines foundational to mastering the art of tea can elevate your cup from an afternoon beverage to an afternoon tea.

Preparation and Presentation

a. Ensure you have appropriate teapots and cups. This may include fine China, a steel tea set, or any other suitable vessel.
b. When brewing your tea, it is important to consider the temperature. Each blend has a different brewing time and temperature that needs to be respected.

Serving

a. The host should ask the guests the blend and intensity they prefer
b. Any guests need to be served before the host serves themselves.
c. Be sure to pour the tea before pouring any milk or sugar. This step protects China from any heat damage.

Seating and Socializing

a. Strategically seat the guests according to familiarity with the host and the other guests.
b. Have a list of engaging, polite, and inclusive conversation topics.

The art of drinking tea

a. When stirring any additional sugar or milk in your tea, be sure to use a gentle motion to avoid clinking the spoon against the cup. Any noise would be considered to be impolite and a disturbance.
b. Take time to use all of your senses before consuming the tea. Appreciate the blend using your eyes, nose, taste, and touch.
c. When drinking your tea, avoid slurping. Politely sip on it quietly and slowly.
d. When finished, respectfully place the tea back onto the saucer.

Thanking the host

a. Always express gratitude to the host. Compliment their setup, the delicacies served, and the quality of the tea blends offered.
b. In some cultures, leaving a small amount of tea can signal to the host that you thoroughly enjoyed it!

Enhance your experience, embrace tradition, and elevate the everyday by incorporating Royal Ceylon premium tea into your next afternoon tea.