Tea with Friends

by Elizabeth Knight

In a similar format to Storey's very successful Country Tea Parties, Tea with Friends presents a year's worth of occasions to bring friends together around a pot of tea. Includes 13 original, little-fuss party ideas illustrated with elegant watercolor paintings. Each party contains menus, tea recipes, and things to make or do to enhance the celebration.

Genres: Nonfiction, Tea, Food

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 1998

About the author

“For me, tea was the original comfort food. No matter where in the world my military family found ourselves, one of my mother's first acts, in her new kitchen, was to take a battered tea kettle, travel mugs and tea out of our "open-me-first box" and brew the cup that cheers ..."

That early experience instilled a love of tea that Elizabeth Knight has spent her life cultivating. Widely recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on tea and entertaining, Knight shares her passion as the founder of Tea with Friends, a website devoted to all things tea.

A certified English Tea Master, Knight studied with Edward Bramah, Executive Director Bramah Tea & Coffee Museum and completed the Whittard Tea Course and Examination, London, England. She is a member of the American Association of University Women, the Culinary Historians of New York, Slow Food International, The Specialty Tea Institute, and The Wayne County Beekeepers.

Elizabeth is the author of bestselling books on the subjects of tea and entertaining including “Tea with Friends,” “Celtic Teas with Friends,” “ Welcome Home, “ and “Tea in the City New York - a tea lover's guide to sipping and shopping in the city. “ She is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs including CBS’ Sunday Morning, WNBC’s Today in New York , WOR’s Food Talk, The Travel Channel, The Home Shopping Network, and QVC.

Knight traveled to China, Cornwall, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Taiwan, Tibet, and Wales to research and write numerous articles about tea and travel for Tea Time, Romantic Homes, TEA A MAGAZINE, and various other publications.

As tea sommelier for the historic St. Regis Hotel in New York City and spokesperson for the 40th anniversary of Royal Doulton’s china pattern, Old Country Roses, Elizabeth has created and presented programs in the U.S. and U.K. She regularly speaks to audiences at trade shows, national retailers including Bloomingdale’s and Marshall Fields, cultural institutions including The British National Trust, historical and botanical societies including The Missouri Botanical Garden, and schools including New York University, among others.

(Source: http://www.teawithfriends.com/aboutel...)

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has some cute ideas, but there aren’t many original ideas. Additionally, you have to look outside the book to carry out its suggestions. I was surprised to see that many of the suggested recipes for the themed teas weren’t present in the book.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered a lot of information on hosting tea parties. It included sample menus and recipes, a tea buying guide, a section on tea etiquette, caring for linens and more. If you can only get your hands on one book about tea parties this was the best my library had to offer and I'd think it would be one of the best anywhere. It was very comprehensive.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute little book based on afternoon tea menus. There is one menu per month with a seasonal approach. Some are rather dull but most are charming and cute!

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good guide for casual adult teas.

[Emily Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up for my tea book collection and was pleasantly surprised that despite being published in the 1990s, there’s still some solid ideas, inspiration, and practical wisdom. While there is little detail in some of the menus and a weird amount of specificity with centerpiece ideas, I plan to use this book as a reference to mix things up with my own tea drinking experience throughout the next year. But I’ll probably stray away from the clown decorations.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information at the beginning was a good reminder of the history of the various British teas. The rest of the book contained an idea for a tea party each month with a menu including one recipe.

[fyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered a lot of information on hosting tea parties. It included sample menus and recipes, a tea buying guide, a section on tea etiquette, caring for linens and more. If you can only get your hands on one book about tea parties this was the best my library had to offer and I'd think it would be one of the best anywhere. It was very comprehensive.

[Sinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty ideas and recipes for those who love teas, tea cup collecting and cooking 'tea-munches':)
I love the covers that it decorates my decorated dining area, anyway:)

[Sandybear76]

I picked this one up after the Tea Talk at the library.