Properly serving tea table

Inviting to a cup of tea never means just tea. It is always tasty sweets and sincere conversation in a warm atmosphere. To create this atmosphere and make a meeting with friends and family unforgettable, you need to attend to the preparation of the tea table. It is not by chance that his serving is a true art, and the traditions of tea drinking have a centuries-old history in every country of the world. Today, if you wish, you can arrange a tea ceremony in any style.

China is considered the birthplace of tea, where this drink was known in the fifth millennium BC. It is believed that the virtues of tea was appreciated by the Buddha himself. Initially, the leaves of the plant for brewing were ground into powder. When the Mongols came to China in the XIII century, they did not bother with preparing tea leaves for brewing, but simply poured them with boiling water. In Europe, tea appeared in the XVII century and already with the Mongolian version of brewing.

In any case, the Dutch and English traders, and after them the aristocratic circle, used the method of brewing tea leaves. The philosophical side of the Chinese tea ceremony with the symbolic meaning of porcelain vessels for brewing a drink in Europe meant nothing. Here, their traditions and their semantic content tea feast.

Tea was presented to the French king Louis the Sun as a healing agent, which allegedly was intended for the treatment of gout. Having started treatment, the king quickly appreciated the taste of the drink, and after him the fashion of tea drinking was taken over the whole court. It took quite a bit of time, and it spread throughout Europe. Tea feast turned into an exquisite occupation. It spoke about the belonging of those gathered at the tea table to a good society.

Accordingly, the importance was attached to the situation in which the tea was being served, how to drink it, what dishes to put on the table for tea and so on.

Each country has its own traditions in this regard. Today there are concepts of English, German, French, Turkish, Russian tea drinking:

• In France tea is almost the same as wine. In addition to sweets confectionery always a wide selection of teas. Here they love this drink with bergamot, pieces of zest, rose petals and other additives.

• In Englandwhere coffee is almost never consumed, there is always green light for tea. They drink it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Traditional English tea is usually held from 16 to 17 hours. Drink often with milk and cream, which are always present on the tea table in a special jug. For tea, various sweets are offered.

• In Turkey Black teas are most respected. Apple and mint can be added to the drink. Zavarnik is placed on a large container with boiling water, and sugar is used in the form of pieces.
• These features are traceable. in the Russian tea tradition. Although historically tea in Russia came straight from China itself. In this drink in Russia it is customary to add some other herbs, for example, thyme or mint. Tea is also drunk with lemon. The Russian samovar is a borrowing from Turkey. But drinking tea from a saucer is an exclusively Russian invention. Pot-bellied cups, saucers, samovar, bowls of sweets, a hot-water doll for a teapot and a bunch of bagels or bagels are all a characteristic part of a Russian tea party.

The reason for tea drinking can be anything - a birthday, a wedding, a New Year — any holiday that appears on the calendar. Etiquette requires that the design of the tea table complies with certain rules.

A properly laid table should impress the guests and adjust them to the holiday mood. The layout is as follows:

• On the table lay a tablecloth, which is in tone echoes the service. It is necessary that the fabric is absolutely clean and perfectly ironed. To create a festive atmosphere, you can decorate the edges of the tablecloth with bows or ribbons. Here, all at the mercy of the hostess.
• Dessert plates should be placed a couple of centimeters from the edge of the tabletop.
• To the right of each plate put a spoon, fork and knife.
• Also to the right of the plate arrange the tea pair. Leave the spoon on the saucer.
• On the left side of the plate, place an outlet under the jam, another teaspoon, and a saucer for pits.
• The center of the table can be decorated with a bouquet. It is better to choose a small vessel that will not interfere with anyone, and no one will upset him for sure.

The mood of the spiritual holiday can be set using lighted candles. They can also be installed in the center:

• The rules for the placement of appliances and dishes allow you to place candy dishes, plates with sandwiches, cakes and other pastries near the edge, so that everyone can take them conveniently. To preserve the freshness of baking before the start of the feast, the plates can be covered with beautiful napkins.
• Plates with lemon wedges are placed next to baked goods.

• Milkman and creamer, sugar bowl with a spoon set in the middle. Near you can put decanters with alcohol.
• Honey-like sweets are arranged in small vases near the edge of the table so that no one has to follow them.
• A samovar or a vessel with hot water should be placed on a special table, on the left hand of the person who will manage the change of dishes. There also leave the teapot.
• It is impossible to set the table without napkins. They are neatly folded in each set of cutlery for guests.

Of course, if the tea feast is organized in a certain style, for example, in Russian, you can deviate from these rules. A round table with a samovar in the center will set a certain mood.

Choosing a tablecloth to meet for tea is a special matter. If you choose a tea set with painted cups for a festive occasion, a white starched linen is best suited to it. If you are the owner of a snow-white service with a gold rim on the edge of each device, choose a lace tablecloth. And if you plan to tea in a company with a samovar, choose a colorful bright tablecloth with embroidery.

Depending on the size and shape of the table you have to choose how to lay the tablecloth. A round and oval countertop covered with a canvas in two layers. The bottom should move down from the table to the chair seat. If you hang the tablecloth stronger, it will be an obstacle for people sitting at the table, a short "skirt" will look too curt. Sometimes it is collected with folds and ruffles and stabbed. The second layer on the table put the tablecloth to the size of the tabletop.

On a square-shaped table, two tablecloths at an angle of 45 degrees will look good. If you take a tablecloth of the same size, but different in color, you can achieve a great effect.

As for napkins, they should in any case be flawless in purity. If they have spots left from the previous feast, it’s better not to show such things to the guests.For a tea table, products of 35 by 35 centimeters are used. Before tea drinking they can be folded simply in the form of a triangle. In special cases they are given the shape of a fan, sail, tulip. And, both fabric and paper products. True, to get beautiful, you need a certain skill. Therefore, it is better to practice in advance.

Napkins are put not only under personal appliances, but also under other dishes, in which fruits, candies, bread and other things lie.

The meaning of linen is to protect clothes from drops and crumbs from the table. Paper wipe hands. After the end of the meal, a paper napkin can be put on a plate, and a tissue cloth can be left on the table. It should not be crumpled or folded.

Meeting for tea does not require strict dress code. Still, this is not a solemn dinner. Everything is easier here. But still you need to prepare thoroughly for the event. Guests must also follow certain unspoken rules. If you are invited for tea, it will be good form to bring a box of chocolates or something sweet from a candy store.

The tea itself is brewed when the guests are gathered. But on the part of the owner, it is obligatory to ask politeness whether someone wants coffee. Well, if in the house in case someone does not tolerate tonin, there is herbal tea. In the hot summer, it is best to prepare iced tea for guests.

Properly selected dishes, tablecloths and treats will make a meeting at tea memorable. An expensive decoration of any tea table will be a Chinese service. But domestic dishes are also very elegant, able to set the right mood.

It is logical to design the table for the holiday taking into account the "case". On the New Year's table, the appropriate attributes are appropriate - in the center you can put a composition with fir branches and New Year decorations. It is good to choose suitable napkins.

A modest tea party does not require much effort to decorate the table. Against the background of a beautiful tablecloth, a set with an elegant pattern is clearly visible. A small number of devices and snacks on the table will allow you to enjoy tea and food, without interfering with the tune up to a confidential conversation.

Appropriate decor should be chosen for a birthday or wedding. Romantic tea in the garden involves decorating the table with flowers. Candles will be appropriate to create the mood. A white tea set on a milky-colored tablecloth with a pattern will look attractively surrounded by natural greenery.

Serving lessons can be viewed in the next video.