Whether you’re serving yourself and your partner or the entire kindergarten class, it takes just a little planning to host the perfect tea party.

Herbal teas are perfect for guests of any age, so stock up on a selection. Favorites include: peppermint, spearmint, chamomile and hibiscus. Consider including some spices and other flavorings, like cinnamon, cloves, orange peel or lemon peel. (Check the safety of specific herbs for use during pregnancy, if any of your guests are expecting.)

• Coordinate your herbal teas with the snacks you’ll be serving, as well as the occasion (bright red hibiscus on Valentine’s Day, for example, and a lulling chamomile for a sleepover).
• Serve your tea in something special, like grandma’s tea set or a fun collection of different teacups and saucers that you’ve put together. Or invite guests to each bring his or her own teacup and saucer—and perhaps a favorite tea herb or herbal tea blend.
• Provide tea favors for your visitors: decorative tea strainers or mesh tea balls, pretty tea tidies, reusable cotton teabags with a small jar of your signature herbal tea blend.
• Have a tea tasting, with a handful of sample teas from which guests can choose.
• Start a tea club, with a regularly scheduled party to share new herbal tea finds. Your book club or other discussion group might be a good match.
• On a hot summer’s day, host an iced-tea party, with big glass pitchers of colorful herbal teas. Blend some of the steeped teas with fruit juice and garnish with fresh fruit slices.
Suggested Menus
• Gingerbread with lemon yogurt and rosehips tea (especially nice during the winter holidays)
• Bite-size sandwiches (cream cheese, cucumber and dill on pumpernickel; hummus and cilantro on rye) and a robust mint tea
• Lavender Lemon Scones (see recipe) or fruit tarts with a collection of herbal favorites: chamomile, lemongrass, hibiscus, and mint
• Muffins (poppy seed & orange, cinnamon-oatmeal, cardamom-chocolate) and a dandelion or raspberry tea

Tea and muffins are perfect party partners. This one is tasty enough to serve on its own, but it’s also delicious with cream cheese or butter.

2 cups unbleached white flour, sifted
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon orange peel (cut and sifted)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange flavor