I will have to say that my favorite tea of all times, though, was in London a few years ago, aboard the Orient Express. What sheer luxury that was! Thanks for your post - love it!
You invite your lady friends to tea and she comes to your house with all the fixins she has made herself for the party or shower or whatever. She has a gleaming commercial kitchen in the basement of her home.
Dressed in a total Victorian long dress (with cut-out gloves, yet!) she sets your table with lace, china and flowers. She makes all the scones, finger sandwiches, little tarts, fresh strawberries with clotted cream, delicate soups and bisques, and, of course, you are served from beautiful tea pots in exquisite cozies, tiered silver "etagieres" and English serving pieces and tableware.
The teas from all over the world are unusual and delicious. My favorite is the Czar Nicholas Russian tea which the czar and czarina favored above all others.
You chat for a couple hours over tea, and everyone has a real unusual and fun experience. The time flies.
She also edifies the participants in an entertaining manner with the fine points of tea varieties and the history of real Victorian tea parties. After the party, she cleans up and leaves. The hostess never has to do a thing (that's the kind of parties I like!).
She's a real freeper entrepeneur and the business has turned out to be so popular, she's now opening her own Victorian Tea shop in suburban Chicago.
I went to one of her teas when I was up from Florida and stuffed myself with the incredibly yummy goodies along with copious cups of hot tea.
And yes, many men join the teas and have a ball and a feeding frenzy (delicately and graciously, of course!)
Leni
I will have to say that my favorite tea of all times, though, was in London a few years ago, aboard the Orient Express. What sheer luxury that was! Thanks for your post - love it!