Looking for a way to celebrate a special event or enliven a routine day? An herbal tea party is appropriate for a surprising number of occasions, such as: a graduation or engagement, a stellar performance (or effort!), a baby shower, any-age birthday, or a holiday. You might even have a ritual tea party, say every Sunday morning with your neighbor or every Friday after school with your kids and their friends.

Scones are the ultimate “afternoon tea” snack, traditionally served to the English upper class at three or four each afternoon. (“High tea,” on the other hand, was served with cheeses and meats in the evening to the working class.) There are myriad variations—from oat-cinnamon-raisin to cheddar cheese-mustard-cayenne. This recipe yields a delicate, delicious dessert scone.

2 tablespoons dried organic lavender flowers
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon lemon peel (cut and sifted)
3/4 cup cream, milk, or buttermilk
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Preheat oven to 425°.

Blend the lavender flowers and sugar together in a blender. Pour into a small bowl with the butter, lemon peel, and cream or milk. Blend until creamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and sea salt. Combine the dry and wet ingredients and knead slightly. On a lightly floured surface, press into a circle, about 3/4 of an inch thick, and cut into wedges. Place wedges on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until just golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Makes about a dozen scones.

What’s the difference between herbal tea and black or green tea?

Herbal teas are made from the edible herbs, flowers, leaves, bark, roots, or berries of plants. Most don’t contain caffeine, and many have been used medicinally throughout history. Black, green, oolong, and white teas, on the other hand, all come from the Camellia sinensis plant, which produces thousands of varieties of tea, depending on where the tea is grown, when it’s harvested, and how it’s processed.

How long should I steep herbal teas?

Experiment to see what you prefer, but if you enjoy a mild tea, start with three to five minutes. For more robust flavor, you can steep longer, say five to ten minutes. But be careful, because over-steeping can eliminate the subtleties of herb blends.