Tea Time

Because South Africa was one time an English colony, there is, of course, a lot of English influence there. One custom I really enjoyed was having tea. I'm actually more of a coffee drinker, but I loved the tea rituals. They say that if you're visiting in some one's home for longer than thirty minutes and you haven't been offered tea, you should feel insulted.

The tea is always served in bone China cups and saucers, usually with matching cake plates. And the tea spoons and cake forks are so cute. They are very dainty and much smaller than our tea spoons and dessert forks. With the tea comes "biscuits" (cookies), cakes or scones with jam and cream. Depending on the occasion, the "spread" can be modest or elaborate.

When I returned to the States, I brought sets of the forks and spoons which I continue to use today. I also brought a set of bone China tea sups, saucers and cake plates, as well as a coffee set. (They didn't use coffee mugs when I was there). Whenever I serve tea or coffee in these I hear a lot of "oohs and ahhs" from the women, who really seem to enjoy them. Men probably think they are too dainty.

And of course, these lovely pieces are placed on a tray that has been covered with a tray cloth. These are beautiful pieces of linen, often embroidered and also dainty -- a suitable object on which to display the beautiful dishes.

Tea time in South Africa is a quite formal, enticing and enjoyable custom which I do miss.