7

Tea Time

Snacks For A Memorable High-Tea Party At Home

Monsoon is incomplete without a tea party with loved ones, as it feels mesmerising to share laughter and remember magical moments together. However, if you are planning to host a high tea gathering at home, do not forget to prepare some tea snacks to accompany the tea. Move beyond samosas and pakoras and introduce unique tea-time snacks that add a special touch to your party. Explore the list of food items below:

In the United Kingdom, tea sandwiches are known as finger sandwiches. These are mini sandwiches designed to serve as finger snacks alongside a cuppa. For Indian-inspired finger sandwiches, you can keep three options in your party menu: the first cucumber sandwich, which is loved for its desi flavour; the second egg salad curry sandwich that is guaranteed to fill your guests up; and the third Veggie Cream Cheese Sandwich, flavoured with vibrant veggies. Unlike traditional sandwiches, these are more presentable and appealing, making them perfect for tea-time snacks. 

A sponge cake, also known as checkered cake due to its appearance, is a culinary masterpiece with different sections held together with frosting or jam. This soft, light cake uses marzipan (a type of almond paste) as a covering and, when cut in cross-section, reveals a unique two-by-two checkerboard pattern, alternately coloured brown and white. If you are welcoming the little ones to your high tea party, you can serve this fun-loving Battenberg cake. 

Victoria sponge cake is a perfect make-ahead treat that consists of strawberry jam and whipped cream filling between two tender sponge cakes. A touch of vanilla in the filling adds a little sweetness while keeping the strawberry taste alive. This fancy cake is ideal to accompany black tea, providing a cosy hug in damp and cool monsoon weather. Dusting with some icing sugar and adding a few halved strawberries on top makes it more appealing and indulgent. 

Scottish shortbread is a rich and buttery biscuit made from just three ingredients: flour, butter, and sugar. These shortbread cookies are easy to make and have a distinctly crisp, crumbly texture. In addition to the classic ingredients, you can also incorporate optional additions, such as dried cranberries, fresh herbs, and nuts, to further enhance the flavour and texture of this delicious shortbread. If you are including this shortbread in your teatime snack menu, serve it warm alongside a hot beverage.

Madeira cake is a buttery English cake flavoured with some lemon zest. In Portuguese, the word ‘Madeira’ means a fortified wine, and this cake gets its name from the traditional style of serving it alongside Madeira wine. This cake has a light and soft texture, resembling pound cake or yellow cake. Unlike other cakes, this madeira cake is a comforting serving treat during the tea party, without being too heavy or sweet. 

Scones with clotted cream and jam are perfect for entertaining guests during a monsoon tea party. This snack originates from Cornwall and Devon and is often a topic of debate over the order in which to spread jam and cream. In the Cornish style, the soft scones are split open and served with strawberry jam and thick cream (with the jam applied first), while in the Devon style, the cream is spread first. It is also known as cream tea, a classic offering of English high tea. Adding this tea-time snack to your monsoon high tea menu can make your party extra special.

Fruit tart features a crisp crust filled with rich, lightly sweetened pastry cream and topped with fresh seasonal fruit like berries, stone fruits, and kiwi. It is easily customisable with a different range of colourful fruits for an eye-catching presentation. This light and refreshing fruit tart evokes a sense of occasion during the monsoon season, paired with a hot cup of tea. Do not forget to chill the tart for 30 minutes after you assemble all the ingredients to ensure neat slices.