Everything You Need For a Holiday High Tea (Except the Queen)

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It's time to switch up your normal party routine with a holiday high tea. Sure, you could book a reservation at your local tea parlor or hotel, but that can get pricey fast. (Tickets often go for upwards of $50 a head.) Instead, host an afternoon of tea, scones, and catching up with your best girlfriends in the comfort of your home. Keep reading for a rundown of all the traditional fixings from drinks to dessert.

— Additional reporting by Nicole Perry

Traditional Teas
Anna Monette Roberts

Traditional Teas

For a traditional British take, serve Darjeeling black tea — an Indian tea with a floral, astringent flavor — or Earl Grey, whose zesty citrus flavor comes courtesy of bergamot. Alternatively (or additionally), brew a pot of your favorite blend, whether green, white, rooibos, or herbal.

Honey
Flickr user North Charleston

Honey

Drizzle honey on scones, or stir it into your tea. If you want to get extrafancy, serve honeycomb and runny honey — the honeycomb is such a treat when spread on scones.

Sparkling Wine
POPSUGAR Photography

Sparkling Wine

For those feeling extrafestive, pop open a bottle or two of bubbles. (It is a party, after all.)

Cucumber Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches
Anna Monette Roberts

Cucumber Cream Cheese Finger Sandwiches

Mix up the classic cucumber cream cheese sandwich by adding mint instead of the usual dill. Don't forget to cut the cucumber slices paper-thin — that is key!

Salmon Finger Sandwiches
Anna Monette Roberts

Salmon Finger Sandwiches

Perk up smoked salmon tea sandwiches with a squirt of lemon and a thin coating of savory mayonnaise (which also helps hold it all together).

Watercress Sandwiches
Anna Monette Roberts

Watercress Sandwiches

Slightly bitter watercress is tempered by a generous coating of butter for a traditional English sandwich your guests will devour with relish.

Scones
Anna Monette Roberts

Scones

Classic British scones are crumbly, creamy, and sweet — oh, and did we mention full of buttery flavor? Served with a bit of clotted cream (or butter), fresh jam, or lemon curd, the plate of scones will disappear in no time.

Lemon Curd
Nicole Perry

Lemon Curd

Silky smooth and full of zesty flavor, lemon curd is a traditional pairing with scones and crumpets. And while homemade is in a league of its own and actually very easy to make, store-bought options like that sold at Trader Joe's will work in a pinch.

Cranberry Jam
Anna Monette Roberts

Cranberry Jam

For a holiday-appropriate spin, try cranberry jam.

Clotted Cream

Clotted Cream

Rather than attempt to make clotted cream at home, snap up a jar of the store-bought stuff ($14). A cross between whipped cream and butter, clotted cream is a traditional accompaniment to scones and jam.

Earl Grey Kumquat Marmalade
Nicole Perry

Earl Grey Kumquat Marmalade

Orange marmalade is commonly served with scones, but try this updated and less bitter twist: Earl Grey kumquat marmalade, made by infusing the cute little citrus fruits with citrus-forward Earl Grey tea.

Victorian Sponge Cake
Anna Monette Roberts

Victorian Sponge Cake

In America, we call them cupcakes, but in England, "small cakes" are served during tea. This Victorian sponge cake is made with a simple ratio: equal weights of sugar, flour, egg, and butter. The dainty sponge cakes are then topped with whipped cream and a fresh berry for a picture-perfect treat.

Petit Fours
Anna Monette Roberts

Petit Fours

If you have the time (and the inclination), petit fours are a classic end to high tea.