Setting up the Tea Tray for High Tea

This is almost as important as boiling the water - why, because tea tastes best when made with boiling water and when it is properly and attractively presented.

This doesn't have to be a difficult or fussy process. If you keep the basic materials at hand

1 - the tray
It would be lovely to have an excuisite tray for the occasion but a plain tin kitchen tray will do just as well. You are going to cover it with a crisp tray cloth anyway

2 - the tray cloth

3 - the napkins
cloth of course -paper napkins - no matter how fancy are not fancy enough for High Tea
for very fancy High Tea you can use an antique handkerchief at each setting - these can often be found in flea markets or thrift stores

4 - the tea cups and saucers

5 - sugar bowl and milk jug and a small dish for the lemon slices if desired

6 - a fancy / nice plate for the sanwiches and bites
a two-tier plate set is traditional and very attractive on the tray

6- tea pot - large enough to hold a second cup

7 - tea snug or cozy to keep the tea warm and sometimes to hide the tea pot

8 - A silver tea spoon is a lovely detail. By tea spoon, I mean a small or coffee spoon - just the right size to go with a china tea cup. I inherited one from my Gramma and tea would not taste the same without it.
You don't need more than one of these little spoons for your personal tray - so indulge yourself and go on a spoon hunt through your local antique store but wonderful little spoons can be found in thrift stores and flea markets. With a bit of luck, you might even find a set of sugar cube tongs or a sugar spoon to match. What is important is that you should feel special when you use it

9 - flowers or decoration
a small arrangement or one fresh rose from the gardem in a bud vase
silk roses
a potted plant - especially the miniature violets that can fit into a tea cup

Flower Fasioners are a series of vintage flower arranging gadjets - from very small flower frogs that would fit into a tea cup to bowl frogs to large sweeping full table

optional extras

jam pots

doilies

lazy susan