Celebrate tea in January 2010

It may come as a surprise but January is also Hot Tea Month, which might sound very appealing to those who live in colder areas. One great party idea to brighten up the chilly winter days is to host a traditional tea party and invite guests for afternoon tea.

Party planning for a small gathering need not be extravagant, but it might be nice to put together some tea-themed party favors so guests can enjoy warm beverages until spring. Pick a weekend afternoon to ensure more people are not at work, and send out old-fashioned invitations to your tea party.

Everyone has at least a couple of mugs, but if you're lacking in that department, ask guests to bring their own mugs, preferably with a story attached that they can share at the party. You can provide a range of herbal and traditional English teas, so each guest can select their preferred blend.

To keep costs down, bake some tasty treats for your tea drinking group. A simple approach would be to make a range of cupcakes and decorate with different colored frosting. Those who like to bake may want to concoct sweet and savory scones or even a tea bread or cake.

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