It was December 16, 1773 and a group of two hundred some-odd men assembled in disguise on a hill overlooking Boston Harbor. As they descended upon three ships, the crowd marched down to the wharf two-by-two, crying, "Boston harbor, a teapot tonight!" They boarded the ships, gained access to the holds, and split open all 340 chests of cargo and pitched them overboard. This single event, organized as a protest against a tax that made it harder to get tea, was dubbed "The Boston Tea Party."

While this might be the most famous Tea Part of all time, at Adagio, we certainly think every day is a great day for a tea party of your own! Here are some ideas for your next gathering with friends, all centered around... tea!

What is a Tea Party anyway?!

We probably all remember either playing with, or attending a "tea party" where we pretended to sip tea from a comically tiny, toy-sized tea set, surrounded by stuffed animals, right? Well now we're all grown up, and a tea party can be any gathering of people where the primary focus is on the tea. Often referred to simply as "tea," different varieties of tea parties include the aforementioned kid's version, wedding tea, afternoon tea, high tea, tennis tea, tea dances and many more.

Not to be confused with tea ceremonies, like the Gong Fu (or "Kung Fu") ceremony has been practiced in China for hundreds of years, and involves the host and guests practicing "great skills and patience," we want to kick back and relax a little, all while sharing the age-old beverage we love.

1. Afternoon Tea

In the age of Americans watching Downton Abbey, (or my favorite, Keeping Up Appearances) we tend to think of a tea party as Afternoon Tea - like the British custom. It was the British who introduced the famous practice of "afternoon tea" to the Western world in the early 1800s. It was designed as an afternoon pick-me-up in a time where only 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) were generally served. The custom of inviting friends for this event was quickly picked up by the social elite, and it soon trickled down to everyone!

To enjoy a lovely afternoon tea - a Black Tea is a must! Prepared in a traditional teapot (warm your pot first with hot water from the kettle, then pour out and add tea and water), serve alongside some finger sandwiches to your liking, scones with a selection of butter and jams, (bonus points for clotted cream).

2. High Tea

Many of us confuse this with the former afternoon tea, whereas high tea got its name from the fact that it was eaten at a high, dining table rather than the low tea tables. Originally created by the working class rather than the upper-class, high tea is usually taken in the evening. Meat, bread and butter, cheese, pickles and, of course, tea would usually be served around 6pm when working families would come home for dinner.

To recreate your own high tea - try a nice cheese and charcuterie plate with some crusty bread to go with it. Since you're enjoying high tea in the evening, you might want to consider a Decaf or even a White Tea to keep your caffeine content down low. With those foods though, be sure and select something hearty to balance it together!

3. Tea Dances

Like a little dance with your tea party? Originating in London - gardens and outdoor cafes began to host "tea dances," light-hearted events to enjoy the tea hour with subdued dancing. While this tradition has come and gone in many forms over the years, a late afternoon dance party sounds fun, and the tradition lives on with a recent revival, especially in LGBTQ-friendly destinations. This modern tea dance has less to do with tea, and more with fun, but perhaps could be the tea-themed event for you!

For your tea dance, this could be the perfect time to experiment with some tea cocktails or mar'tea'nis, for an after-work treat! Herbal teas are phenomenal choices when it comes to cocktails, as the flavors are as endless as your imagination!

4. Kids Tea Parties

Our young ones emulating and imitating things they perceive to be "fancy" and adult is the likely origin of the play-time tea party. Why not educate and elevate your kids tea party from a young age? Making sure the tea is not too hot of course, try our Story Time, Tree House, or Fairy Tales Teas to get your special little one into the world of teas! The theming of kids tea parties can go on forever, but doesn't need to be extravagant.

Perhaps a 'little teapot' could become a treasured family tradition and (if handled carefully), handed down from one generation to the next. Tea (DECAF!!) can often be a nice gateway to introduce kids to the culinary world. The easy-to-grasp lifecycle of tea plant to beverage is a great way to get your children thinking about where their food and drinks come from!

So which teas do you recommend I serve at my upcoming tea party?

When offering teas to guests, the best approach is to pair some favorite and steadfast "classic" teas, such as English Breakfast, or Earl Grey, or perhaps a classic Green tea, with some interesting teas your guests may not have experienced before, such as Jasmine Phoenix Pearls, Milk Oolong, or Honeybush.

After that, use your imagination!