The Tea Squirrel

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A tea-themed holiday centerpiece

Have you ever used tea or tea ware as a decoration?

I’ve decided to challenge myself and create a tea-themed holiday tablescape. The good news is, it takes almost no time to arrange, it’s very inexpensive and you can re-purpose things you already have. Get creative and have fun!

Use pretty tea ware, natural elements like bright-colored seasonal fruit or vegetables, add moss and fallen leaves (which you can easily forage) or whatever tickles your imagination. If it’s going on the dining table, use unscented candles and tea lights (the only scents you want there are those coming from the food), make it interesting (you could add a glass cloche and small figurines), mix and match different textures, play with high and low elements to give dimension but try to keep it relatively low, you don’t want it to be in the way of the conversation at the dining table. Start with a tray or a trivet or a plate or a board (it will make it easier to re-position whenever needed). I used my marble cake stand. That’s your canvas. 

For the version of this centerpiece that features tea, I used a flowering tea aka a blossoming tea. Jasmine-scented white tea leaves are tied around a flower blossoms, ready to unfurl when steeped in hot water. Take a wine glass and fill it with water at room temperature. Fill a tall mug or tall heat-resistant container with hot water and add the flowering tea ball. Let it sit until it “blossoms”, then carefully remove the tea flower from the mug and transfer it to the wine glass. Arrange the wine glass in your tablescape. PS: You can drink the fragrant jasmine tea left in the mug. 

Which version of this tablescape do you like best? 

Happy Thanksgiving, my dear tea friends!