How to Throw a Fabulous Summer Tea Party – the British Way

Lifestyle

Summer is upon us, and this means one thing and one thing only – the officiality of Tea Party Season. A time for cocktail dresses, smoked salmon sandwiches, Victoria sponge, perhaps a little Pimm’s, but above all, it’s the perfect excuse to dust off your finest china and lean into your most elegant self in true summertime fashion.

From Wimbledon strawberries to the buzz of Formula One weekends, summer is peppered with quintessential events that deserve to be marked with ceremony. And what better way to welcome your guests than with a prestigious garden tea party that leans into the elegance, ease, and indulgence of the season?

Why Tea Still Matters

The tradition of tea drinking, though Chinese in origin, found its spiritual home in Britain during the 17th century. By the Victorian era, “afternoon tea” had become a social ritual led by Anna, Duchess of Bedford. It wasn’t just about refreshment, but about presentation, socialisation, sensational conversation, and above all, setting the scene. In today’s world, where fast-paced lives dominate, tea time allows us to crave and savour moments of slow pleasure - the ritual of tea remains a grounding act of generosity and style. We recall a moment in Big Brother history where Gemma Collins slipped to Tiffany Pollard that  a cup of tea “is everything, it means a lot to people, it’s a hearty gesture, “can I make you a tea?” it’s like saying "can I give you a grand”. Now, satire/humour aside, tea is indeed a staple in the UK, and you won’t find a cupboard without it. However, it does have benefits aside from its memory and gestural evoking perks. 

Besides the aesthetic charm, tea (especially the loose leaf variety) has genuine benefits: black teas boost energy and support heart health, while green and herbal infusions aid digestion and calm the mind. A perfect offering, then, to nurture and delight your guests in equal measure.

The perfect Tea Party requires the perfect tea

There are tea brands, and then there is Mariage Frères - a name that evokes not just refinement but ritual. With its origins in 19th-century Paris, this maison de thé has become a benchmark for excellence, bringing centuries-old savoir-faire to the modern table.

Founded in 1854 by Henri and Édouard Mariage, brothers who inherited their father’s trade routes and vision. The maison has spent over 130 years as a discreet powerhouse, supplying the world’s most discerning tea drinkers from behind unmarked Parisian doors. Today, Mariage Frères is no longer a secret. Its distinctive black canisters have become synonymous with quiet luxury, stocked in five-star suites at Palace hotels such as Le Meurice Paris, Claridges and The Rosewood London - and now curated kitchens alike.

But what truly sets the house apart is its dedication to purity, provenance, and perfume. Each tea is part of an elegant choreography—harvested from the finest estates across Asia and Africa, then blended with the artistry of a perfumer. The result is a tea that tells a story before you’ve even taken a sip.

They also hold the Jardin Premier® label, which guarantees teas of exceptional purity that meet the most stringent EU quality standards. In other words, this is the haute couture of tea, and your guests will notice.

Our Summer Tea Party Edit: Fragrant, Elegant, and Unforgettable

For our tea party, we wanted blends that felt luxurious yet accessible - each one capturing a note of summer, a sense of place, or a memory on the breeze. After an afternoon at the Mariage Frères Covent Garden, where guests can be guided through options or indulge in a course with an esteemed tea atelier, we discovered a treasure trove of scent, design, and ceremony. It was difficult as they have almost 1000 options, but we selected three standouts:

Marco Polo

Notes: Fruity, floral, velvety

This is Mariage Frères’ most iconic blend for good reason. Marco Polo is a black tea with an enigmatic bouquet of red berries, Chinese and Tibetan flowers, and a whisper of vanilla. It is rich but not heavy, feminine yet grounded. Think: English garden meets Eastern spice route. The flavour lingers in the mouth like silk, making it the ultimate choice for both hot tea service and iced presentation in a beautiful cut-glass cup. It's the tea equivalent of a little black dress—timeless, flattering, and a conversation starter.

Earl Grey French Blue

Notes: Citrus, bergamot, cornflower

A refined reimagining of a British classic. This variation of Earl Grey blends robust black tea with Italian bergamot oil, elevated with a scattering of blue cornflower petals. The result is both familiar and surprising—a brisk, citrus-forward cup with floral complexity that shines when paired with lemon drizzle cake or scones. It also makes an elegant iced tea, especially when served with a twist of lemon peel and crushed ice.

Jasmine Mandarin

Notes: Delicate, citrusy, floral

For guests who favour lighter, more aromatic teas, Jasmine Mandarin is the answer. A green tea scented with jasmine blossoms and infused with a subtle touch of mandarin zest, it’s bright, clean, and beautifully refreshing. Best served chilled, garnished with orange blossom or a slice of fresh citrus, this tea is the equivalent of a late-summer breeze: effortless, cooling, and utterly refined.

Teaware Worthy of the Occasion

Now, a prestige tea party is complete without exquisite teaware, and Mariage Frères delivers on design just as beautifully as it does on flavour. For our event, we chose the Pleine Lune cast iron teapot in matte white, a contemporary heirloom that keeps your tea at the perfect temperature while adding architectural elegance to the table. These cast iron tea wares draw inspiration from a rich tradition dating back to the Fujiwara era (1090–1187) in Japan, when the artistic styles of northern Japan began to influence ceremonial practices across the country.

Pleine Lune cast iron teapot by Mariage Frères

The most exceptional pieces - inlaid with gold, silver, and copper - were once offered to Lords and Shoguns during prestigious tea ceremonies. In doing so, artisans earned the protection of nobility, allowing their craft to flourish and be passed down through generations. The maison has mastered bringing a touch of modernity in design whilst paying homage to the art of teaware. 

We paired it with their Full Moon cups in Turquoise, which bring a pop of colour and an elegant twist to the setting. Each piece is crafted with the kind of care that mirrors the tea itself: precise, tactile, and inherently luxurious.

Tea Recipes for a Summer Garden Soirée

Here are a few easy yet impressive ways to serve your selected teas, both hot and iced:

Marco Polo: Hot

Serve hot with a dash of Manuka honey, or for those luckily enough to experience a little sunshine, see our iced recipe below. 

Full Moon Cup by Mariage Frères

Marco Polo: Iced 

Brew a strong pot (2 teaspoons per cup) and steep for 3-5 minutes

Strain and chill

Serve over ice with a few muddled strawberries and a dash of rose water

Garnish with rose petals or mint leaves

Earl Grey French Blue: Hot

Served best hot, and for those seeking a unique iced recipe, see below. 

Earl Grey French Blue Sparkle: Iced

Brew tea and cool

Add a splash of sparkling elderflower tonic or soda

Garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of thyme

Serve in a Full Moon cup or champagne coupes for flair

Citrus Jasmine Cooler

Brew Jasmine Mandarin and steep for 3 minutes

Chill with slices of orange, lime, and cucumber

Serve in a jug with ice and edible flowers (try borage or pansy)

Final Touches

Set the scene with linen napkins, tiered cake stands, and a curated playlist (think string quartets, Nouvelle Vague, or even soft soul classics). Offer guests homemade lemon shortbread, macarons, or freshly cut cucumber sandwiches - and don’t forget a splash of Pimm’s for that extra British wink.

With Mariage Frères teas at the heart of the celebration, your tea party will not only taste exquisite, it will feel like an experience your guests won’t forget.

For more information, visit Mariage Frères

Words by Jheanelle Feanny