Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

You know how much I love tea, especially afternoon tea. My friends know it too. For the winter gift-giving holidays Betty gave me a gift certificate for a tea party at Jolie Tea in Salem and I decided to invite the troupe. We finally went last month. It was so delightful!

I love an occasion to dress up, and while my own tea parties afford an opportunity, as the hostess in my own home, it’s improper to wear a hat. I was thrilled to pull out my Millenary Investment for the second time this year and a pair of beaded vintage gloves, although I only wore them briefly (one should not eat or drink while wearing gloves).

Jolie Tea is charming without being twee. Our table was set with floral china, but it wasn’t fussy, and there were mugs rather than tea cups and saucers. Paige, our server, wearing snazzy skeleton earrings, dropped by to introduce herself, offer advice about the tea menu, and bring us goblets of iced crème brûlée rooibos. She also checked in about allergies and other food issues.

The tea menu was quite extensive, with black, oolong, green, white, pu-ehr, and herbal. Many of them had amusing or intriguing names, especially the herbal ones. If memory serves, both Ava and Devastasia got Pixie Dust (a blend of flowers and fruit). I had darjeeling because I’m classic that way.

The treats arrived on a traditional three-tier server: tiny sandwiches on the bottom, small cakes in the middle, and sweets on top. Devastasia had asked not to be served one of the sandwiches, so they had brought her a little dish of fresh berries instead. I meant to take a picture of each set of offerings on my plate, but only managed one (see below). I was too busy enjoying everything.

All the tea sandwiches were delicious, and each one had a little touch that elevated it (something to remember when I plan my next party). I think my favorite was the smoked salmon on a cheddar gougere (gougeres are like savory cream puff shells).

Then we turned to the baked goods on the next tier: scones and madeleines. Instead of raisin or currant, the scones were lemon, topped with a thick, sweet, but tart glaze? icing? something in between, with a sprinkle of rose petal powder. Although I had a token dab of wild strawberry jam, they just didn’t need it. I was reminded how good a simple madeleine can be. They’re something I’ve wanted to try baking, but haven’t sprung for the pans (an essential part of the cake).

The last bites were macarons. I tried the Earl Grey first. I don’t really like the tea, but Paige had assured us they tasted more like Froot Loops than bergamot. She was correct, but I was not won over. The raspberry ones were more to my liking and a perfect flavor to end on.

The tea, the food, and the atmosphere were wonderful, but the company was the best part. I really enjoy hanging out with these ladies and gent. We have a good time at rehearsals and shows, but it was really nice to spend time together when we weren’t working.

As you can see from this picture, much fun was had.

Would you be interested in more tea content? I’ve got recipes, etiquette tidbits, tea facts, &c.

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