Afternoon Tea in Paris

Afternoon 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!

PAM at Everyday Living

MARY at HomeIsWhereTheBoatIs

and me, LIDY at FrenchGardenHouse

Do you love planning tea parties? What's your best kept secret about them? We'd love to know!