The Simple Pleasure of Evening Tea

“Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate our surroundings.” -Letitia Baldridge

Evening tea.  These two words alone inspire a warm and cozy feeling within, especially after a long day of work.  An evening tea at the end of the day is a delightful way to enjoy a moment of calm and stillness.  A time to appreciate the day by ending it with the simple pleasure of enjoying a hot drink poured from a tea pot into a beautiful cup and then to sip it leisurely over the course of the evening.

While there is always the option to simply boil water, throw a tea bag or two into a large mug and call it an evening, why not elevate the moment into a lovely experience where you get to slow down and savor the process.

While this process does undoubtedly take longer than the former mentioned above, the experience is enhanced by the meticulous attention to detail. These beautifully appointed details is what elevates the experience to be savored and not just merely the act of drinking the tea.

Here are some ideas to incorporate into an evening tea time that can elevate this simple experience from mediocrity to one of true elegance and pleasure.

• Prepare your tea in a tea pot instead of a large mug.  There are many sizes and variations that can be purchased and a large investment is not required.  I have found many beautiful tea pots in antique and thrift stores.  They can also be purchased on Amazon, or even this small two-cup teapot that I got online here at The English Tea Store for $11.95.  And just a side tip, be sure to fill your tea pot with boiling water first and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to get the pot hot so that the tea will stay hotter for longer.  Pour out the hot water, add your tea then fill again with hot water to brew.
• Get a tray to accommodate all that you want for your evening tea time.  The tea tray is indespensible for a tea time as one generally prepares tea in the kitchen, but enjoys the tea in a different room completely.  A tray will help facilitate the transition from one room to another as well as creating a lovely vignette on its own. One tray will certainly do the job, but a few trays may be nice if you would like to switch up the look for variety.
• Purchase a few lovely tea towels (large napkins will also work).  Not only does the tea towel really elevate the look and feel of the tea tray, but it is there to catch any little drips from the tea pot that can naturally happen while pouring. Pick some pretty patterns and designs and even have a few seasonal ones if you so wish.
• Invest in a few tea cups with saucers.  The tea cup is an important piece of an elegant tea time.  The small size and elegant design truly creates an experience that is sure to be exquisite in manner.  Again, a large investment is not needed.  Peruse a thrift store, antique store or even Amazon to find a tea cup with saucer.  The fine china ones from the antique stores are better quality, but I also have one from Anthropologie that I enjoy just as well.
• If desired, purchase a box of high quality chocolate truffles, small cookies or mini macarons to accompany the tea.  Not only does a little sweet treat go together beautifully with the tea, but it also helps you slow down to savor the moment as the treat should only be a bite or two.  Also try to find a small dish for your little treat like a tea spoon rest or trinket tray.   Again, most antique stores would have these in stock.
• Bonus Tip: Light the scented candles, put on some smooth jazz or classical music and have some kind of reading material to enjoy like a book or magazine.

There may also be other things that you would like to incorporate into your tea time such as a dedicated tea table, a pretty tea strainer, a luxury tea or even a tea pot warmer that is used with a tea candle.

The simple pleasure of an evening tea time has truly become an integral part of my evening rituals. After a day of working and taking care of obligations, this is a time for me to create an experience that delights the senses and nourishes the soul.