Your CartAfternoon Tea in Paris is always a seductive thought. My French girlfriends are the queens of French joie de vivre – the carefree enjoyment of living that makes their every day cup of tea a delightful and special moment. Let’s celebrate life today with Afternoon Tea in Paris, in an enchanting setting inspired by all things French.
Welcome to Tea on Tuesdays! I am delighted to be joining my Monday Morning Blooms friends Mary and Pam for Tea on Tuesdays! You can find links to Mary and Pam’s Tea on Tuesdays at the end of this post.
Afternoon Tea in Paris
There are so many lovely places to enjoy tea in Paris. One of my very favorites is Nina’s in Paris. Europeans have tea very day, and make a beautiful ritual out of it. In many countries it is the first beverage enjoyed with breakfast, hot and strong, and with a good dose of sugar to jump start the day.
My European mother-in-law, who was Dutch, was more than horrified when Mr. FGH and I came for our first stay in their home and he asked for coffee with breakfast. I heard her muttering in the kitchen! I’m sure she thought I, his Americanized wife, had corrupted him and led him astray with my ‘un-natural’ coffee drinking with breakfast.
While for many the day may start with tea, when it comes to indulging in the finer things in life, there are few experiences that can rival afternoon tea. I drink a solitary cup of tea almost every afternoon at 3:30 {my grandmama’s tea time} but once especially in a wintry month such as February it’s fun to invite a few friends over for a slightly more elaborate cup of tea.
For this winter tea I channeled my inner Parisian and set a little French bistro table in front of our French windows that look out to the back garden. The outdoor bistro chairs were cozied up to that table.
Because the garden really isn’t thinking spring yet, I covered the table with this bright and cheerful Garden Charm tablecloth.
Little vintage embroidered tea napkins are a perfect size for a ladies tea.
My French girlfriends use what they have to pull together a charming table. They focus on things that are pleasing to the eye, and don’t worry about a slight chip or if things match. Layers of new and vintage linens, and elegant French silver utensils and serving pieces with time worn appeal is what you will find on their tables.
Since Europe is so small, relatively speaking, the mix of silver and serving pieces, plates and other ‘tea party’ essentials can be French and English, and from a dozen other countries. These wonderful square plates are English, the spoons are French antique silver, and they both are happy to be with these beautiful forks with their feathery design.
While traditional English tea time includes a wide ranging menu, tea with just a few small pastries or cookies is what you can expect in France and most of Europe.
Beloved French pastries, such as light-as-air macarons, make teatime sublime. The sweet little pink mousse cakes hiding under the vintage glass dome were bought at my local Trader Joe’s. Together with macarons, and perhaps a bonbon or two, it’s all you really need for a French tea time!
The vintage glass dome fits perfectly over a few stacked mini cakes, I fell in love with the porcelain flowers on the top!
A collection of beautiful cups brings such a delight to your table. I truly believe drinking tea out of a delicate cup makes the tea taste heavenly! While true collector’s cups can be quite spendy, there are many lovely and delicate tea cups for any budget. We have always used the antique tea cups, even my little people drink out of ‘real’ porcelain cups. If one should break? {Anxious friends sometimes ask me…} Well, then it breaks. They are meant to be loved, and used by the people you love.
Antique tea cups are works of art. These thin apple green porcelain Sevres cups are beyond…each has a hand painted portrait on the front.
You can read more about collecting antique tea cups here >
Planning a tea party offers opportunity to pamper your guests with thoughtful surprises. Offering something memorable for each guest to take home is always a gracious gesture. Well chosen favors will be cherished reminders of the memories you made together.
I gathered some of the luxury Rose Oil from Nina’s in Paris and these wonderful French Rose Flavored Mints for guests to take home after our party.
For the flowers, I chose beautiful roses that are creamy white with just a hint of rose, pink alstromerias {the yellow one snuck in the wrong bunch!} and seeded eucalyptus.
I hope you plan your own Afternoon in Paris, soon! Tea is always a good idea….what’s shared around a cup of tea should stay there. : )
Please click over to join my dear friends Mary and Pam….pour me a cup of Earl Grey please!
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Lidy, What a beautiful table for tea, set with your curated treasures! The tablecloth is a beauty and set off to perfection with your flowers, beautiful cups, delicate napkins and plates adding a cheery pop of yellow. Your wee cakes look so tempting under your beautiful dome adorned with the porcelain flowers!
Thanks so much for joining us for tea today! Happy Tuesday and wishing you a wonderful week ahead. ☕ ❤️
I loved experiencing a virtual French tea with you this morning, Lidy. I gladly got sidetracked and visited Nina’s with your link.
I think the thing that is so alluring about the French is that all things imperfect are embraced and, in fact, made more endearing. Your tabletop elements are all beautiful. Happy Teatime Tuesday!
Absolutely stunning!!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Thank you so much, Debbie! Hope a pretty and delicious cup of tea is in your near future!
Oh how I loved this Tea on Tuesday post! It was so beautiful and it reminded me of my mother who so loved her tea!
Your table setting was so inviting, Lidy! I ‘zoomed in’ often to relish everything to the smallest details! And I followed your link to read the story of Nina’s in Paris! It was so interesting!
Thank you to you Sweet Lidy, and to Pam and Mary for these delightful Tea for Tuesday tea parties!
Oh that makes me so happy, Sharon! Thank you for joining our tea party, it’s always a blessing to have you!
Good morning, Lidy. Your Paris tea carried me back to my two trips to the beautiful and romantic city! The Sevres cups are stunningly beautiful. I almost bought the mousse cakes for today’s tea. That would have been funny for us to have both served the tiny cakes. I love the bright pop of yellow from the plates and the charming tablecloth which make me anxious for all things spring. It is a pleasure to have you join Mary and me for tea. Wishing you a lovely week❤️
Seductive indeed! I must have a copy of Georgiana’s book. And a visit to Paris must include a visit to Nina’s. I have several pieces of Severs. They are pretty hard to find. My first piece was a small plate I found many years ago in a junk shop. I was just learning and was so thrilled to have found it. Your table is magnificent. Please keep posting. I miss your French style.
Alice, thank you for your kindest comment. I’m still posting, but lately life and my business have been busier than usual, I think. I’ll try to post more often! I hope you are having a lovely February, friend!
Lidy, first I have to say my French loving heart is bursting with joy at this teatime setting. I’m a coffee drinker in the morning, though a cup of hot tea is my evening ritual. During the cold days of winter, afternoon tea by the fire is also a ritual. When in Paris, I never miss afternoon tea. I have my favorite tea salons, but would love to know your favorites.
I kept zooming in on all the details of your table, and your exquisite descriptions of each special touch resonated with my senses. I immediately noticed the charming favors in the milk glass candy dish. I would often buy such little treats to bring home and have on hand. The attention to detail in packaging of French items captures my attention time and again. I’m smitten with the figural place card holder. Is that from your personal collection? I’ve a fondness for special place card holders.
Merci for whisking me away to a beautiful Parisian teatime today. I will return to indulge again and again.
Sarah, that little place card sweetie is a personal favorite of mine, too! You can write someone’s name on the little porcelain tag, but I usually write something else, since I only have two of them. I am picturing you having tea in front of your fire place in your beautiful home for this season. Thank you so much for stopping by, friend.
Oh la la Lidy, what a beautiful tea table!! I had so much fun reading about tea in France and looking at all the pretty things on your table! I always love your signature casual elegant flower arrangements and I love all the pinks and the touches of yellow~I also love all the vintage silver pieces and the tea cups are wonderful! What a beautiful spot to sip and nibble, I love it all!
Jenna, I love the pinks and yellows too, more than I originally thought I would! It is a sweet reminder that spring is coming, after all the rain we’ve had I couldn’t be more excited about sunshine and flowers to come! Thank you for stopping by today.
Lovely! I love everything afternoon tea related. I collect, and daily use, teacups and teapots. I love planning afternoon tea events and enjoy afternoon teas on my travels, too.
Barbara, thanks so much for your visit. I am sure your teas are lovely, and something to look forward to.
Lidy, what a pleasure to come to a Paris tea! I love everything about this table scape the tablecloth is perfect for a tea table, Spring or Easter,it’s just beautiful. The rest of the accessories needed for tea and the presentation is perfect and would make any guest feel special. Love the floral arrangement, thanks for sharing all your beautiful treasures with us!
Thanks so much, Denise!Every day is a good day for tea, I think.
Ooh La La! A delightful Parisian tea. Love your Seves cups, so delicate and elegant. The tablecloth is richly appointed.
Those mousse cakes are so delicious from Trader Joe’s. The flat ware is stunning. Every detail is so lovely. A beautiful tea for friends to enjoy.
Linda, I love gathering friends any time, but like you, I think tea time is a special time to spend together.
What a beautiful table in a beautiful spot. Our Dutch neighbor years ago always had a baked snack for her children and any friends who they brought over. She drank coffee. My husband and I often have tea instead of coffee each afternoon I must start using the beauitful cups I have! Thanks for the inspiration.
Adore your beautiful table,what a lovely place to drink tea or coffee for that matter.
Love the silver,delicate napkins and your flower arrangement