Be Sure to Set a Pretty Table for Guests!
Use simple and elegant tiered, serving platters like we have!
For Ideas, Visit Tea Party Girl’s online store outlet HERE
The Question is: How Do I Make Tea For A Large Group?
It’s the beginning of the week and that means it is time for another Dear Tea Party Girl post. This week we answer a question that many of you may have wrestled with in the past. How do you successfully make tea for a group and should you use teabags to do it?
Dear Tea Party Girl,
I enjoy your website. It is very helpful. I’m helping in the kitchen for a fund raiser for Adult Day Care organization in my community. I’ll be in charge of the tea making and serving (with help of course). There will be 120 guests. I know the group has water urns for tea that have not been used to brew coffee, but they want to use tea bags to make the tea, I assume in the urns. They will be serving both Earl Grey and Herbal teas. For a 50 cup pot, how many tea bags to brew the Earl Grey for 120 guests? How long should the bags be brewed?
I would very much appreciate your advice.
Thank you,
Confused but Excited
The Answer is: Tea Concentrate
Dear Confused but Excited,
Making tea for a large group is best done by creating and using a tea concentrate. Your tea concentrate is made ahead of time and is poured into the pots that are then filled with boiling water. The result is a mess free, consistent cup of tea for each and every guest. If you plan to serve more than one type of tea, you will need more than one concentrate made in advance. Below is my personal recipe.
Is there anything more beautiful than a scrumptious looking cake on a lovely pedestal cake stand?
Be sure to include at least one or two white pedestal cake stands in your table setting. They are sure to delight!
For Ideas, Visit Tea Party Girl’s online store outlet HERE
Tea Concentrate For Groups
Quantities
25 servings = 1 quart water / 1/2 cup loose tea or 25 bags
50 servings = 2 quart water / 1 cup loose tea or 50 bags
100 servings = 1 gallon water / 2 cups loose tea or 100 bags
Method
Make teabags with loose leaf tea using large cloth tea filter socks (these can be ordered from Amazon at this link: Cloth Tea Filter Socks)
Bring water to the boil in a large pot and then remove from heat. Add the tea bags or the tea socks and steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea. Let the tea cool and then pour into pitchers and refrigerate.
This concentrate can be made up to 3 days in advance. Be sure to make it and test it before serving to a large gathering.
You can use the concentrate in the individual pots or in large water urns which have NOT been used for coffee.
Using a 45 cup urn = 90 Tblsp or 5 1/2 cups of concentrate. Fill urn with water and heat, then add concentrate. If making iced tea, pour in cold water and concentrate in urn, add some ice. When serving, pour over ice in cups.
1 lb of tea should serve at least 200 people or more.
The fresher the tea the better!
Enjoy your group gathering. I know it will be a success!
Warmly,
Tea Party Girl
One of Our Laden Tables for a Large Group of Guests
Platters, Pedestal Serving Trays, Bowls and Baskets!
For Ideas, Visit Tea Party Girl’s online store outlet HERE
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you have additional ideas or questions? Post them here in the comment section!
Oh! This is great information. I, too, will be serving tea, at an ovarian cancer benefit, to be held in May. Thank you both for this information. 🙂
This is very helpful. How much concentrate per teapot? We plan on putting one teapot per table.
This is so very helpful! I’m hosting a tea party bridal shower for about 70 people and had no idea how to serve the actual tea!
I’ll likely use this method.
Quick question… when you say ‘Fill the urn with water’, how much water should I add?
Hi Michele – I always leave it at about two-thirds full, to avoid any boil overs!
Any way that sure does make a lot of tea.
Hope the bridal shower goes well, take lots of photos and be sure to share!
Thank you so much for posting. Question: If I buy the 45 cup urn do I fill it to the 45 Cups then put the concentrate in? Is this for the 50 servings? Looking forward to hosting my daughter Bridal Shower Tea Party!