La Ville Lumiere: How to Host a Paris Tea Party

Paris’ most famous nickname is “La Ville-Lumière” — literally, "The Light City," though most often translated as “The City of Light,” a name it owes to its fame as a center of education and ideas. If you're dreaming about the beautiful, bright lights of Paris in the spring, gather together your friends for an inspired Paris tea party, filled with light to celebrate all that is lovely.

Bring the Light

One of the best ways to bring light to your Paris tea party is to use white and pastel colors as well as reflective metallics. I love mixing gold and silver on my table, but you could decide to go mono-metallic and use one or the other.

Small battery-operated tea lights are abundant in discount stores so stock up the next time you see them and then scatter them throughout your decorations. You might also use a string or two of “fairy lights,” the adorable miniature string lights that are popular these days, or a strand of white holiday lights.

Handmade tea light affirmation packets are designed to bring light to your guests, literally and figuratively. Use white or light-colored tissue paper to create a little pouch that holds a plastic tea light. Inside, place three or four light-inspired affirmations, typed on strips of paper like fortunes from fortune cookies.

Set the Menu

To tempt your friends’ tummies, serve something light and airy. In this case, what popped into my head was angel food cake. I love it for its simple white fluffiness and lightly sweet flavor. Find one already baked at your local market (a steal at $4), or you can make your own with a box mix. Treat yourself and your guests to an oversized piece!

If your group is in need of heartier eats, check out this three-course brunch menu, featuring a sumptuous Roasted Pepper Gazpacho, Smoky Sausage Quiche packed with protein and savory goodness, and light and billowy Cherry Lemon Snow, a concoction of whipped cream and cherry puree.

Serve the Drinks

Of course, the perfect tea for your Paris tea party is the Plum Deluxe Brunch in Paris tea! A simple blend of black tea and honeybush tea is flavored with cacao nibs and orange peel and extract. This delicious blend will give you that emotional boost needed on a wintery day. Try serving it with a splash of honey and milk.

In addition to your hot tea, your guests may enjoy a chilled beverage, like a crisp French lemonade or dry champagne. Don’t want to pop open a bottle that you won’t be able to finish? (Rare — but it does happen.) Don’t worry! Check out these ideas for how to use up your leftover bubbly, such as making ice cubes, simple syrup, or a viniagrette.

Enjoy dreaming of the nearing days of warm and light-filled spring and summer when you host a Paris tea party for your friends this winter season!