How to Host a Tea Party: Tips from Miami's First Tea Lounge

Why Tea Parties Are Making a Comeback

Tea parties are not just for Victorian England or children's birthday celebrations anymore. In recent years, tea gatherings have been reinvented for the modern era, and they are showing up everywhere — from Instagram-worthy afternoon teas at boutique hotels to casual weekend hangouts where friends gather around a table with a pot of chai and a stack of board games. The tea party, it turns out, is exactly the kind of social gathering that people have been craving.

There are good reasons for the resurgence. In a world dominated by loud bars, overpriced brunch spots, and screen-based socializing, a tea party offers something different: a relaxed, intimate, and genuinely affordable way to spend time with people you care about. There is no pressure to order cocktails. There is no pounding music making conversation impossible. There is no $85-per-person prix fixe menu. A tea party can be as simple as a few friends, a few pots of tea, some cookies, and a couple of hours of unhurried conversation. It is refreshingly low-key, and that is exactly why people love it.

Whether you are hosting a bridal shower, planning a birthday gathering, organizing a book club meeting, or just looking for a fun weekend activity that does not revolve around alcohol, a tea party is one of the best options available. Here is how to host one that your guests will actually remember.

Choosing Your Teas

The tea selection is the foundation of any tea party, and offering variety is essential. Not everyone has the same palate, and part of the fun is letting your guests explore different flavors. For a group of six to eight people, four different teas is the sweet spot — enough variety to keep things interesting without overwhelming anyone with too many choices.

Here is a balanced tea lineup that covers all the bases:

• One black tea: Earl Grey or English Breakfast are classic, crowd-pleasing choices. Earl Grey's bergamot citrus notes make it aromatic and distinctive, while English Breakfast is hearty, malty, and universally approachable. Either one pairs beautifully with milk and sweetener for guests who prefer their tea that way.
• One green tea: Jasmine green tea or sencha offer a lighter, more delicate option for guests who find black tea too strong. Jasmine green has a naturally floral sweetness that needs no additions, while sencha delivers a clean, grassy brightness that is refreshing and palate-cleansing.
• One herbal tea: Chamomile or peppermint are excellent caffeine-free options for guests who are sensitive to caffeine or prefer to avoid it entirely. Chamomile is calming and honey-sweet; peppermint is crisp, refreshing, and naturally digestive.
• One specialty tea: This is where you get to show off a little. A spiced chai, a matcha latte, or a London Fog (Earl Grey with vanilla and steamed milk) gives adventurous guests something to get excited about. These specialty preparations often become the conversation starter of the party.

If you are buying loose leaf tea for a home tea party, aim for about two to three grams (roughly one teaspoon) per cup, and plan for each guest to drink two to three cups over the course of the event.

Food Pairings for Tea

Tea party food should be small, varied, and easy to eat with one hand while holding a cup in the other. The goal is not to serve a full meal — it is to offer a curated selection of bites that complement the teas you are serving. Here are some classic pairings that work beautifully:

• Black tea pairs with: Scones (plain, cranberry, or blueberry), finger sandwiches (cucumber, egg salad, smoked salmon), shortbread cookies, and buttery pastries. The robust, malty flavor of black tea stands up well to rich, savory, and buttery foods.
• Green tea pairs with: Light pastries, fresh fruit, rice crackers, and delicate cookies. Green tea's clean, vegetal flavor is best complemented by lighter fare that does not overpower its subtlety.
• Herbal tea pairs with: Honey cake, lemon bars, fresh fruit platters, and vanilla-flavored sweets. The naturally sweet, floral character of most herbal teas harmonizes with gentle, fruity, and honey-based flavors.
• Chai pairs with: Cinnamon rolls, spiced cookies, nut-based treats, and chocolate. The warm spices in chai — cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves — create a natural bridge to baked goods with similar flavor profiles.

Keep portions small. Tea party food is about variety, not volume. A selection of four to five different items, with two to three pieces per person of each, is more than enough.

Setting the Scene

You do not need fine bone china, a silver tea service, or a linen tablecloth to host a memorable tea party. The most important thing is creating a space that feels warm, inviting, and intentional. Here are some ideas for setting the mood without spending a fortune:

Use mismatched mugs and cups for a bohemian, eclectic vibe that actually makes the table look more interesting than a perfectly coordinated set. Mason jars work beautifully for iced tea or herbal infusions, especially in Miami's warm weather. If you have a clear glass teapot, use it — watching tea leaves unfurl and the water change color is genuinely mesmerizing and becomes a visual centerpiece.

Add fresh flowers in small vases or jars down the center of the table. Light a few unscented candles (you do not want competing aromas with the tea). Create a playlist of acoustic music, jazz, or lo-fi beats at a low enough volume that conversation flows easily. And for a fun, interactive twist that your guests will remember: set up a board game station. Nothing pairs better with a pot of tea than a friendly round of Settlers of Catan, Codenames, Ticket to Ride, or a classic card game. Games give people something to do with their hands, break the ice for guests who do not know each other well, and create natural conversation points throughout the afternoon.

Tea Party Etiquette (Casual Edition)

Traditional tea party etiquette can feel stuffy and intimidating, but there are a few simple guidelines that genuinely improve the experience for everyone — even at a casual gathering:

• Stir your tea gently. Use a back-and-forth motion rather than circular stirring, and do not clink the spoon against the sides of the cup. It is a small thing, but it makes the atmosphere feel more relaxed and refined.
• Offer milk and sweetener options. Set out regular milk, a plant-based alternative (oat milk is the most popular these days), honey, and sugar so guests can customize their cups without having to ask.
• Brew each tea at its proper temperature. This is the single most impactful thing you can do to ensure your tea tastes good. Black tea needs near-boiling water (200–212°F), while green tea needs cooler water (160–180°F) to avoid bitterness. A simple kitchen thermometer or a variable-temperature kettle makes this easy.
• Remove tea bags or infusers after steeping. Do not leave them sitting in the cup indefinitely — over-steeped tea becomes bitter and astringent. Set a timer on your phone if you need to.
• Put your phone down. This might be the most important rule of all. A tea party is an analog experience. It is about conversation, connection, and being present with the people around you. The group chat can wait.

Host Your Tea Party at specialTEA

If hosting at home feels like too much work — or if you simply do not own enough mugs for a group — there is an easier option. Bring your friends to specialTEA Lounge on Coral Way in Miami and let us handle the details. With over 60 loose leaf teas to choose from, a full board game library that guests can borrow freely, and comfortable seating for groups of all sizes, specialTEA is the perfect venue for a casual tea gathering without any of the setup or cleanup.

No reservation is required. Just show up with your crew, grab a table, browse the tea menu, and pick a game off the shelf. Each person orders their own tea and food, so there is no splitting the bill or advance planning needed. It is the most low-effort way to host a tea party in Miami, and we have been doing it since 2009 — longer than any other tea lounge in the area.

specialTEA Lounge & Cafe is open until 11 PM six days a week, making it a great option for evening tea parties after work or class. FIU students regularly gather here for study groups that turn into impromptu tea-and-board-game nights, and friend groups use the space for birthdays, book clubs, and casual get-togethers. The address is 10766 SW 24th St on Coral Way, near FIU, with free parking in the plaza lot.

Whether you host at home or let us host you, the most important thing about a tea party is this: slow down, enjoy the tea, and enjoy the company. Everything else is just details.