Author Biography

Bethany Sorenson is a freshman at Utah State University. She grew up in Washington state and also lived in Brazil with her family for three years. She is the youngest of five children and loves spending time with family. Bethany loves to create whether that is through baking, cooking, or drawing.

This essay was composed in February 2024 and uses MLA documentation.

The word tea party is described as a party assembled to take tea together or a social entertainment event in which tea is taken (“Tea Party.” Oxford English Dictionary). But there is so much more to this social engagement than simply having tea with one’s friends. As this word was peaking in the late 19th century and early 20th century, elite women were hosting these gatherings as a way to not only socialize with one another but also to show their wealth and high status.

Women put on a display of the latest fashions. Hoop skirts, bustles, gloves, lace, embroidery, florals, and tea gowns (yes, this occasion called for its own gown.) Their finest china sets would be laid out, complete with teacups, saucers, teapots, creamer, and a sugar bowl to further impress guests.

Women showed their good breeding and upbringing through good etiquette. Adhering to specific rules for these social gatherings allowed a lady to display her grace and sophistication. One of these rules was that a lady should never clink her spoon against the cup while stirring tea. Heaven forbid there should be such a ruckus!

…

The ticking of clocks, creaking floorboards, and muffled voices greet me as I lazily roll awake. My foggy morning brain takes half a second to remind me where I am, but the familiar sounds tell me I’m at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I rub my sleepy eyes, scanning the room as they adjust to the dark lighting of the basement. My siblings seem to have vanished from their beds since the night before and I quickly realize I am missing out on the fun I hear coming from above me. No time is wasted as I whip off the thick covers and leap out of bed, racing to the door that will lead me to the excitement upstairs. Hair sticking up in all directions and not bothering to change out of my pink, Winnie the Pooh onesie, I happily skip up the stairs.

The morning sun streams through the lace curtains and beams on the cozy, familiar home I love so much. The smell of breakfast welcomes me. Licking my lips, I think of the crispy potato cakes, tart orange juice, creamy chocolate milk, golden blueberry Eggos, crunchy bacon, and scrambled eggs I will soon enjoy. The bustling coming from the kitchen tells me breakfast is almost served.

“Good morning Sleeping Beauty!” Grandma cheerfully calls from the kitchen where she is burning the bacon to her liking. Both of my Grandparents were raised on dairy farms, which means waking up at eight o’clock is considered ‘sleeping in’.

“Pick which color of teacup you would like for breakfast.” Grandma beckons. From the corner of my eye I see my siblings at the table selecting which colored teacup and saucer they will be using for this morning’s tea party. Being the baby of the family, I must hurry if I am going to get my favorite color. We all know that the red, rose teacup is Grandma’s. Those two things have always been her favorite. Even now, whenever I see a red rose I think of her and the plethora of red roses she grows in her front yard every summer.

I’ve made it just in time to snatch up the pink teacup and declare it as my own. Grandma sets out teapots at each of our spots which are filled to the brim with rich chocolate milk. I hardly notice as the breakfast is brought to the table and blessed. The teapot has my full attention.

As I pour glass after glass an idea pops into my little head. Instead of pouring it into my teacup I aim the spout directly into my mouth. Before anyone catches onto my brilliant idea and tries to stop me, I dump the chocolate milk all over myself, the table, and the carpet below. It seems the only place it didn’t get into was my wide open mouth.

“I’m sorry.” I repeat as Grandma chuckles to herself and willingly cleans up the mess I’ve created for her. I realize that if this had been a real tea party I may have been banished from society forever. Not only would a lady never be caught dead wearing her pajamas to a tea party, but I am certain she would have avoided embarrassment by keeping her tea in the cup. Where it belongs. I am grateful that this is just a tea party with Grandma. She will always love me, despite my poor choice of clothing and my very poor etiquette.

…

No expense was spared at tea parties hosted by Aristocratic women of the Victorian Era. If you were to attend an afternoon tea you would find an abundance of dainty, finger foods and enjoy a variety of light refreshments. Tiny tea sandwiches were a staple. Some of the most popular being egg and watercress salad sandwiches and cucumber dill sandwiches. But one must always remember to remove the crust! Dainty tea cakes would also be served to guests, such as seed cakes and a victoria sponge, which was named after Queen Victoria herself. Scones, jam, and clotted cream would also be enjoyed. Although the name ‘clotted cream’ may sound extremely disagreeable, it is actually quite delicious. The thick spread resembles butter, but it has a much richer, and nutty taste. Of course a wide variety of tea would be served at these occasions such as Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong, or English Breakfast.

I may be older, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love to play dress up. Sitting up to the vanity in Grandma’s playroom, I adorn myself with clip-on earrings, gold watches that no longer work, glittering rings that fall off my skinny fingers, and layers upon layers of beaded necklaces.  Refusing to stop until I have robbed every last piece of bling from the jewelry box, I am beginning to resemble a chandelier. Of course my fun doesn’t end there. I skip to the closet and retrieve bins of silky sashes, sequin dresses, plastic princess heels, and anything else I can find lurking at the bottom. Once I’ve finished dressing myself up, I examine my reflection in the mirror and decide I look like a true lady. Maybe even a Princess! I am ready to attend a tea party.

“Is it time for the tea party?” I eagerly ask Grandma as I rush to find her reading in her rocking chair. She politely holds back a laugh when she glances up from her novel and sees my slightly ridiculous costume.

“Of course, let’s have ourselves a tea party!” she exclaims as she hops up and begins preparing for the festivities. Eager to assist her, I retrieve the tea set and arrange the delicate cups and saucers at each of our designated places. Of course Grandma’s red, rose teacup and saucer are put at her usual place. Selfishly, I take the pink one for myself.

From the dining room table I hear Grandma fixing the refreshments for the tea party. Bags crinkle and a bottle hisses as it is opened and carefully poured into each of the teapots. My mind begins to wander as I imagine all the delectable goodies we will soon enjoy. Grandma does not disappoint. As she comes around the corner I spy a tray full of delicacies. Bowls upon bowls of bright orange cheeseballs, frosted animal crackers freckled with pink sprinkles, gummy Swedish fish, and fizzing 7up. Mom never buys any of these treats at home. She is much too healthy for my liking. Not only do I love being with Grandma, but I especially love all the yummy snacks she feeds me. The best part is that she never tells me to stop. Her saying is that it’s a Grandmother’s job to spoil her Grandkids. I quite agree.

As I happily munch on my crunchy cheese balls and stain my little fingers with their orange dust, I think how happy I am to not be eating bland sandwiches, unsweetened tea, or stale cookies (they’re not biscuits!) This type of food suits my six-year-old taste palette much better.

…

Not under any circumstance would a lady of high standing be found at ‘high tea’. It makes little sense considering the word ‘high’ is found in both of these words. However ‘high tea’ and ‘afternoon tea’ are not to be confused with one another. Low class laborers relied on ‘high tea’ for a hearty meal where meat, fish, eggs, bread, and potatoes would be served. This large meal was put in place to support themselves after a long day of hard work. As you can see, this tea party did not earn its name by the status of people it served. Instead it earned its name from the high dinner tables it was served at. This is very contrasting to the ‘afternoon tea’ that would take place in the gardens or parlors of the elite where guests were seated in low, comfortable chairs. At these events ladies gathered together and enjoyed light afternoon refreshments as they socialized with one another.

…

All my life I’ve lived far from my Grandparents’ house. However, what used to be a ten hour drive from Washington has turned into a ten minute drive from my dorm in Logan, Utah where I have begun attending college at Utah State University.

Brainstorming for an assignment given to me in English class, I begin to remember and reminisce on the blissful memories I have made with Grandma over a cold cup of 7up. Being far from home and feeling as though I have grown up too fast this past year, these memories come crashing down on me. The bittersweet feeling of nostalgia for childhood leaves me wistful as I come to terms with the fact that I will never get back those precious years. No longer do my days revolve around what games I will play with my brother, which cartoon I will watch as I eat breakfast, or which neighborhood friend will be able to play with me today. Girlhood is over.

I pick up my phone and begin to type. “Hey Grandma, I was just thinking about how much I loved the tea parties we would have together when I was a kid! I would love to have another one with you again sometime soon!” Being with Grandma seems to help me feel less homesick and melancholy. Almost immediately a buzz comes from my phone and I see a message pop up on the screen from her.

“Dear Bethany, you have made this Grandma very happy. I would love to!”

Not many days later we are once again seated around the table, warm sun streaming through the lace curtains, and delicate teacups in hand. (Of course she has the red one and I have the pink.) It feels as though I am reliving a scene from childhood. Unlike the tea parties we usually would have had with a few sugary snacks, she has taken the time to prepare an entire meal, despite her being eighty-four years old.

“Thank you Grandma, you really didn’t have to go to this much trouble!” I gratefully tell her. “It’s a Grandmother’s job to spoil her Grandkids! Besides, you’re a hungry college student now.” she counters. I can’t help but appreciate all she has done for me. Tea parties have always been a way for her to show her love. In the past she has shown me through patience, like when I spilled chocolate milk everywhere, or by indulging my sweet tooth with snacks. But today she served me a hearty ‘high tea’ as her way of taking care of me. If I am ever lucky enough to be a Grandmother, I hope I will have the opportunity to share my love for my Grandchildren through tea parties, just like my Grandma.

Works Cited

“How to Do Afternoon Tea like the Victorians.” English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/how-to-do-afternoon-tea-like-the-victorians/. Accessed 19 February 2024.

Marks, Tasha. “The tea-rific history of Victorian afternoon tea” The British Museum, 14 Aug 2020, https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/tea-rific-history-victorian-afternoon-tea. Accessed 19 February 2024.

“The History of Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition: The Swan London.” Swan London Bar & Restaurant, 13 October 2022, https://swanlondon.co.uk/brief-history-of-afternoon-tea/. Accessed 19 February 2024.

“Tea Party,” Oxford English Dictionary, https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=tea+party. Accessed 19 February 2024.